Lexile® MeasuresA tool to improve reading in English

Timothy Klasson, Chief Operating OfficerTodd Sandvik, Executive Director of Global Services

OverviewLexile measures can help improve reading in English for your students.

What is a Lexile measure? What does a Lexile measure mean? How can I use Lexile measures?

About UsMetaMetrics created Lexile measures. Based in North Carolina, U.S.A. Prominent in educational research. Focused on linking assessment with instruction. Services in development, licensing and support. Growing adoption of our tools worldwide.

Historical Timeline

1984

Initial research funded by the U.S. National Institutes of Health (NIH)

1997

Introduction of Lexile measures for Reading

2005

Introduction of Quantile measures for Mathematics

2006

Introduction of Lexile measures for Writing

2010

U.S. CommonStandards for English include Lexile measures

Lexile measures are now the standard for Reading in English.

Challenge:What is the right shoe size for a ten year old?

Answer:It depends on the ten year old.

What is the right book?It depends on the individual, too.

What are Lexile measures?Matching readers with text. . .

The Lexile MeasureA scientific way to match readers with text Uses a common scale for measuring individual

readers and texts Enables accurate matching of reader ability

with text complexity to enhance learning Provides authentic views of English reading

demands and progress over time

A Common Scale for ReadingThe Lexile measure is a unified metric.

ReadingAbility

850L

TextComplexity

850L

When they match,learning improves.

reader text

The Lexile ScaleLexile measures are developmental.

2000L

Beginner

Advanced Advanced-level readers and texts have higher measures

Beginner-level readers and texts have lower measures

0L

A Lexile measure is given as a number followed by an “L”

1000L

500L

1500L

The Lexile MapA visual representation of the Lexile scale.

Sample Books

Sample Passages

How Are Readers Measured?A reading test determines the Lexile measure of an individual student.

A test that utilizes the Lexile scale for Reading or

A test that has been linked with Lexile measures

Millions of students get a Lexile measureeach year from a variety of assessments.

Examples of Tests in KoreaSeveral tests that provide a Lexile measure:

English Reading Assessment for Korean Students published by Natmal

Scholastic Reading Inventory (SRI) published by Scholastic

TOEFL and TOEFL Junior tests published by ETS

How Are Texts Measured?The Lexile Analyzer evaluates the complexity of a text to determine the Lexile measure. Difficulty of the sentence structures

– Longer sentences are more difficult.

Difficulty of the vocabulary– Less familiar words are more difficult.

Millions of books and articleshave received a Lexile measure.

220L 980L 1210L 1680L560L 770L

Example Books

The best fit for learning typically ranges from 100L below to 50L above the reader’s measure.

For example, a 900L reader is usually matched with books that range from 800L to 950L.

What do Lexile measures mean?

Matching readers with text. . .

Typical Reader MeasuresLexile measures by grade level in U.S. schools

Grade Mid-Year Reader Measures(middle 50% of students)

3 330L to 700L4 445L to 810L5 565L to 910L6 665L to 1000L7 735L to 1065L8 805L to 1100L9 855L to 1165L

This information is for descriptive purposes only and should not be interpreted as a prescribed guide.

Typical Text DemandsTextbook measures by grade level in U.S. schools

College and Career ReadinessA text-based perspective using Lexile measures

Real-World Text DemandsEnglish-language online newspapers worldwide

1340L Times of India 1350L Japan Times 1360L Chosun Ilbo (Korea) 1370L Arab News (Saudi Arabia) 1380L Santiago Times (Chile) 1400L China Daily 1400L The Moscow Times (Russia)

Using Lexile MeasuresMatching readers with text. . .

Free Lexile ResourcesUseful things you can do at www.lexile.com

Introductory materials and best practices

Lexile Book Database (Find-a-Book)

Lexile Text Analyzer

Research articles and white papers

The Lexile Titles DatabaseBrowse book titles at www.lexile.com/fab Free, easy-to-use book search utility Access the thousands of books that have been

given a Lexile measure Include reading interests to increase motivation

and further personalize practice

Schools and libraries can license the database for local use.

The Lexile AnalyzerMeasure text online at lexile.com/analyzer

Basic Steps:1.Create an electronic file of the full text for an article, story, or book2.Remove all non-prose components, such as headers, captions, and lists3.Submit the file to the Lexile Analyzer4.Get the Lexile measure instantly

Differentiating InstructionUse Lexile measures to tailor the classroom Sequencing classroom materials Grouping students by reading ability Exploring special themes or topics of interest Setting goals and measuring progress Communicating with parents

Encourage more independent reading!

Further ConsiderationsOther factors in matching readers with books

Age-appropriateness of material Amount of additional support (such as pictures) Background knowledge

Lexile codes help describe qualitative characteristics of books,

such as age-appropriateness and intended usage.

Lexile CodesAdditional information about books

BR Beginning Reading (0L or less) AD Adult Directed NC Non-Conforming HL High-Low IG Illustrated Guide GN Graphic Novel NP Non-Prose

Create a Lexile-Based Reading List with Find a Book

Matching readers with text. . .

Lexile.com/fab

Contact UsFor more information. . .

Online:Visit www.lexile.com/feedback to submit your questions to MetaMetrics.

Email:Timothy Klasson tklasson@lexile.com Todd Sandvik tsandvik@lexile.com