LightSail is an adaptive literacy platform that brings reading instruction into the modern era. Built by teachers, LightSail motivates students to enjoy the reading experience and take responsibility over their learning, while simultaneously fostering close, careful reading skills. Win win win!

What makes LightSail special?

Equipped with over 80,000 eBooks, LightSail allows each individual student to create a personalized adaptive library, filled with their favorite books. It also has the ability to monitor the student’s reading level and gradually increase the complexity of the material it provides to the student. This feature allows the student to move up the staircase of text complexity.

Included within each LightSail book is a Common Core-aligned assessment. Each assessment comes equipped with 3 different question forms: Cloze (or embedded answer form), multiple choice, or written short response. As students take these assessments, the LightSail system updates their Lexile measures and adapts their libraries accordingly. From there, the students’ assessment answers will be instantaneously added to the LightSail data display. This will allow the teacher to manage and manipulate the data in real time, thus allowing them to target additional instruction or responses to individuals or groups.

How is LightSail used?

Adaptable to any K-12 reading program, LightSail can be used to enhance any reading model including independent reading, small group instruction, and whole-class novels.

Independent Reading: From assessing student reading comprehension to keeping a constant gauge on their changing reading levels, LightSail gives teachers full visibility into each student’s reading experience, while empowering students to take control of their reading.

Small Group: LightSail helps teachers keep track of different small groups and allows students to communicate with each other via digital annotations. LightSail offers scaffolded grading so teachers can correctly grade and thoughtfully respond to student writing.

Whole Class: LightSail shows teachers whether or not students are on task and if they are actively reading. LightSail also identifies comprehension issues that are sometimes confused for a lack of understanding. By making annotations and notes on their dashboards, students can use LightSail to prepare for whole-class discussions and writing assignments

Why should you use LightSail?

It monitors your student’s reading comprehension and adjusts accordingly! It also provides teachers with comprehensive analytics that can be used to address the needs of the student in real-time.

By reading at least 30 minutes a day using the LightSail, students have experienced (on average) 2x their expected Lexile growth.

In a nutshell, LightSail is great because

• It comes with robust, engaging content: LightSail’s digital library offers students a wide variety of exciting and engaging books.
• It allows both teachers and students to make digital annotations: Students can write digital sticky notes and see responses from their teachers in real time. Targeted feedback moves the needle north!
• It comes with interactive teacher and student dashboards: Teachers see alerts about reading behaviors and student comprehension, allowing them to modify instruction accordingly. Students can see their reading data, their goals, and their progress.
• It makes life easier for the teacher with comprehensive instruction templates: Teachers can record their individual and group interactions using LightSail’s scaffolded conferencing and group templates.

Who should use LightSail?

Sounds like it should be you!