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Lexiles
The Lexile Framework for Reading is a scientific approach to measuring readers and reading materials. A key part of the Lexile Frameowrk is a number called the Lexile measure. The Lexile measure reflects the difficulty of a text--a book or newspaper article. A Lexile measure also indicates a student's reading ability. Knowing the Lexile measure of a book and the Lexile measure of a reader helps predict how the book matches the student's reading ability--whether the book may be too easy, too difficult, or just right.
A Lexile measure for either text or readers is a simple number followed by an "L" (e.g. "850 L"), and is placed on the Lexile scale. The Lexile scale ranges from 200L for a beginning reader to 1700L for advanced texts.
All of our 3rd-5th grade students received a Lexile measure when they took the Texas Assessment of Knoweldge and Skill (TAKS). Each student's Lexile measure is located on the Confidential Student Report.
Click here to view the Lexile Framework Map
For more information on Lexiles, please visit www.lexile.com
Is it possible to tie grade-level equivalents to Lexile measure?
Because of the many problems associated with grade-level equivalents, there is not a direct translation from a specific Lexile measure to a specific grade level. Within any classroom, there will be a range of readers and a range of materials to read. For example, in a fifth-grade classroom, there will be some readers who are ahead of the typical reader (about 250L above) and some readers who are behind the typical reader (about 250L below). To say some books are "just right" for fifth graders assumes that all fifth graders are reading at the same level. The Lexile Framework for Reading is intended to match readers with texts at whatever level the reader is reading.
If a reader is an excellent reader, that does not mean he or she will comprehend a text typically found at a higher grade level. Without the necessary background knowledge, the words may not have much meaning. A high Lexile measure for a grade indicates that the student can read grade-level-appropriate materials at a higher comprehension level (maybe 90 percent). In the classroom, if a teacher is conducting a lesson on the solar system, he or she can recommend supplemental readings at a variety of levels--the weaker readers can read easier texts and the stronger readers can read harder texts. The educational levels displayed on the Lexile map indicate approximately the middle 50 percent of materials found in a typical grade-level classroom (see chart below).
Grade Reader Measures Text Measures 1 Up to 300L 200L to 400L 2 140L to 500L 300L to 500L 3 330L to 700L 500L to 700L 4 445L to 810L 650L to 850L 5 565L to 910L 750L to 950L
Notice there is a considerable overlap between the grades. This is typical of student reading levels and materials published in each grade. In addition, the level of support provided during reading instruction and reader motivation impact the reading experience. Students who are interested in reading about a specific topic (and are therefore motivated) are able to read text that is at a higher level than his or her reading level (about 100L above).The real power of The Lexile Framework is in examining reader growth--no matter where the reader is in the development of his or her reading skills. Readers can be matched with texts that they are forecasted to read with 75-percent comprehension. As a reader grows, he or she can be matched with more demanding texts. Furthermore, as the texts become more demanding, the reader grows.