Mrs. Suzanne Flynn, School Librarian
Mr. Ron Carlisle, 6th Grade Teacher
Shaler Area School District
May 9, 2012
What are Lexiles?
 Scientific approach to reading and text measurement
 Matches reader ability and text difficulty, allowing
individualized monitoring of progress.
 Research shows matching the reader and text
improves reading skills.
Who Developed Lexiles?
 Developed in 1984 with a grant from National Institute of
Child Health and Human Development (NICHD).
 MetaMetrics: a private educational measurement and
research organization.
 Develops scientific measures of academic achievement
that enhance differentiated instruction and
personalized learning.
Lexiles and Common Core
Standards
 Lexiles:
 Cited by Common Core State Standards for
English/Language Arts.
 Adopted by nearly half of all states in the United States.
 Cited in Common Core Standards, Appendix A.
*Common Core Standards recommend Lexile bands
for reading comprehension development be each
grade level.*
How Do Lexiles Actually Work?
 Two parts:
-Lexile measure relates to the text
-Lexile scale relates to the reader
 Measure the TEXT:
 Reading ability or text difficult score followed by an “L”
(i.e. 850L)
 Comprehension difficulty
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Semantic difficulty (word frequency)
Syntactic difficulty (sentence length)
Measuring the Text Using Lexiles
 A book has a Lexile level, a readability rating
 A student has a Lexile score, which is their instructional
level
 Measures the syntactic difficulty
-Syllables per word
-Words per sentence
 Measures the semantic difficulty
-Happy = 50 Lexiles
-Glad = 120 Lexiles
-Pleased = 360 Lexiles
-Jovial = 460 Lexiles
 Evaluates EVERY word and SENTENCE
Text Examples
 460 Lexile Version
-Row your boat gently down the stream.
-8 syllables; 7 words; one sentence
 800 Lexile Version
-Propel your vessel placidly down the tributary.
-14 syllables; 7 words; one sentence
(Measured using http://www.lexile.com)
Real-Life Examples
 CD/DVD player instructions; 1080L
 Installing your child safety seat; 1170L
 Federal Tax Form, W-4; 1260L
 Application for Student Loan; 1270L
 Chicago Tribune; 1310L
 The Wall Street Journal; 1320L
(Kilzer, R. (2009). The Lexile framework for elementary.)
Using the Lexile Scale
 Lexile scale (the READER):
 Developmental scale for reading
 Range from below 200L (beginning-reader material) to
above 1700L (advanced text)
How Do We Measure the
Students?
 Scholastic Reading Inventory (SRI)
 “Research-based, computer-adaptive reading
assessment that measures students’ level of reading
comprehension and reports it using the Lexile
Framework for Reading.”
 Administered three times per school year
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September, January, May
Computer-based
Academic coaches assist in administration
Data-driven instructional piece
Scholastic Reading Inventory (SRI)
 Using Lexile levels to inform instruction and choice
 Independent
 Instructional
 Frustration
How Does the Lexile Compare to
Grade Level?
 Lexile scores in a range of numbers.
 More accurate than grade-level.
 Compare to “shoe size.”
What Lexile Does NOT Measure
 Developmental Suitability:
 Age-appropriateness
 Prior knowledge required for comprehension
 Quality:
 “Good” books
 Books to “hook” reluctant readers
 Content:
 Complexity of plot
 Complexity of character(s)
Lexile is a Good Measuring Tool, but it is
Just One Factor in Great Book Selection!
Interest
Guys
Read
Mystery
Biography
Quality
Literature
Awards
Fantasy
Recommendations
The Lexile Scale and Independent
Reading Level (Fluent)
 100 to 250 Lexiles below SRI Lexile Score
 Vocabulary and syntax should be easy
 Maintains and increases reading comprehension
 Builds fluency and confidence
 Explores new or difficult subjects
 Practices reading skills
The Lexile Scale and Instructional Reading
Level (On-Level)
 50 Lexiles above or 100 Lexiles below SRI Lexile
score
 Students can read at this level with accompanying
instruction
 Appropriate level of challenge for small group work
 Maintains and increases reading comprehension
 Use for audio book selection
The Lexile Scale and Frustration
Reading Level (Challenging)
 50 Lexiles to 250 Lexiles above SRI Lexile score
 Ideal for teacher modeling or read aloud text
 Student will not be able to read the text independently
 Use with support only when student has a deep
interest/prior knowledge base of subject matter
 Important to consider!!!
SAES Library and Lexiles
 Lexiles purchased for school library catalog.
 Lexiles are recorded within the inside cover of each
reading selection.
 Students are able to then self-select books based on
his or her Lexile.
 Flexibility remains constant- students may read
slightly above or below their Lexile.
 Promotes independent reading!
“Reader Behaviors”
 Readers have a “next” book.
 Readers talk about what they’re reading.
 Readers like to keep track of what they have read.
Types of Readers
 Developing Readers
-Experiencing reading failure time and time again.
 Dormant Readers
-These students never discover that reading is enjoyable.
-Because much of reading is dictated by teachers, these
readers do not learn to choose books for themselves.
 Underground Readers
-Avid readers
-School is about performing to the teacher’s expectations
and doing the work that is required.
-Their reading takes place all outside of school, or at
“stolen” moments (hiding their book in their desk)
Some Lexile Observations
 Nonfiction tends to score higher than fiction.
 Most upper elementary fiction books fall within the
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600L to 1000L range.
Fantasy fiction tends to score HIGH
Mystery fiction tends to score LOW
Titles with older publication dates score higher
within the Lexile Framework.
No correlation between book length and Lexile score.
Not necessarily a correlation between target audience
and Lexile score.
Relating Lexiles to Reading
Incentive Programs
 Shaler Area Elementary School- “Blazing the Titan
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Trail: A Reading Adventure”
School-wide field trip celebration in June.
Motivational assemblies throughout the school year.
Students are challenged to read at least 25 Reading
Counts books within their Lexile range, and pass its
corresponding quiz by scoring 80% or higher. (8/10)
Promotes reading and makes reading fun!
Reading becomes part of lifelong learning!
Conclusions…
 The Lexile Framework helps to encourage students to
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read within a “comfort zone.”
Respect confidentiality within student SRI scores.
Flexibility is a must when creating a school-wide
reading incentive program using Lexiles.
Do not confine students exactly to his or her Lexile,
maintain an open mind.
Encourage students to READ, READ, READ!
References
The Lexile Framework® for Reading. MetaMetrics. <http://lexile.com>.
"Andrew Kyngdon Joins Durham-Based MetaMetrics Inc. as Senior
Research Scientist." dBusinessNews: Daily Business News Delivered to
Your Desktop. 24 Oct 2006. dBusinessNews. 6 Nov 2006
<http://www.dbusinessnews.com/shownews.php?newsid=96277&type
_news=past>.
Ezarik, Melissa. "Text Demands on Students Don't Meet Life's Demands."
Curriculum Update June 2005.
Glick, Andrea, and Renee Olson. "Company Touts System to Match
Students and Books." School Library Journal Sep 1998: 94.
Jones, Chip. “Measure of Difficulty." Richmond Times-Dispatch 4 May
2006.
Reid, Calvin. "Lexile Ratings Catch On." Publishers Weekly 6 Sep 2004: 8.