LEXILES FOR LEARNING: LEXILES FOR LEARNING: An Overview An Overview Developed by the Houston Independent School District Department of Library Services
LEXILES FOR LEARNING:LEXILES FOR LEARNING:An OverviewAn Overview
Developed by the Houston Independent School District Department of Library Services
Questions To Be Answered
• Why do I need to know about Lexiles?• What are Lexiles?• How do I determine the Lexile level of
text or students?• How can I use Lexiles to help my
students?
What is “reading”?
Reading is a process in whichinformation from the text and the knowledge possessed by
the reader act together toproduce meaning.
Text + Reader = Meaning
The Lexile Tool uses the same scale to measure the student’s ability to read and the text being read.
Lexile Table
Grade Level
Reader Measures
Text Measures
(Lexile Range)
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
6 665L to 1000L 850L to 1050L
7 735L to 1065L 950L to 1075L
8 805L to 1100L 1000L to 1100L
9 855L to 1165L 1050L to 1150L
10 905L to 1195L 1100L to 1200L
11-12 940L to 1210L 1100L to 1300L
Success Rates for Readers of Similar Ability with Texts of Different Readability
Reader
Ability`
Text
ReadabilityText Titles
Expected
Success
1000L
1000L
1000L
1000L
1000L
500L
750L
1000L
1250L
1500L
The Magic School Bus Inside the Earth (Cole)
The Martian Chronicles (Bradbury)
The Reader’s Digest
The Call of the Wild (London)
On Equality Among Mankind (Rousseau)
96%
90%
75%
50%
25%
Stenner, Stone
Data: National Adult Literacy Study (1992)
Jo
b L
evel
151413121110 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 0
700
900
1100
1300
1500
•••
••
••
••
••
••
•
labor
serviceconstruction
craftsmanclerk
foreman
secretary
salessupervisor
nurseexecutive
teacheraccountant
scientist
Reader Ability in Lexiles
Reading in the Workplace
Lifelong Reading
• CD-DVD Player Instructions (1080L)
• Microsoft Windows User Manual (1150L)
• GM Protection Plan (1150L)
• Installing Your Child Safety Seat (1170L)
• Federal Tax Form W-4 (1260L)
• Application for a student loan (1270L)
• Medical Insurance Benefits Pkg. (1280L)
• Aetna Health Care Discount Form (1360L)
Source: Dr. William R. Daggett, CCSSO Summer Institute Presentation, July 2003
Lexiles CAN:
• Gauge student reading level to a standard
• Monitor student reading growth• Match text to reading ability
Lexiles CANNOT:
• Account for interest level• Measure background knowledge• Indicate developmental
appropriateness
Scholastic
Reading
Inventory
(SRI)
A quick 30 minute test, paper or computer, purchased from Scholastic which can give you a
lexile level on a new student, one that did not take the test, or can be used as a mid-year snapshot for
any student.
Lexiles and TAKS Data
Student A Student BPromoted to next grade Promoted to next grade
Passed TAKS reading Passed TAKS reading
Reads 200L below grade level
Reads 100L above grade level
Indicates need forintervention
Indicates need foracceleration
Lexiles and TAKS Data
Student C Student DNot promoted Not promoted
Did not pass TAKS reading
Did not pass TAKS reading
Reads 400L below grade level
Reads 40L below grade level
Indicates need forintense intervention
Indicates need forminimum intervention
LIBRARIAN’S EXPERTISE + LEXILES =IMPROVED STUDENT ACHIEVEMENT
• Appropriately matched books that are engaging and challenging
• Improved reading success and enjoyment• Positive growth in reading proficiency and
motivation• Effectively managed differentiated
instruction
TEACHER’S EXPERTISE + LEXILES =IMPROVED STUDENT ACHIEVEMENT
• Differentiating Instruction• Matching class work to students’ reading
ability• Positive growth in reading proficiency and
motivation• Effective communication with parents
about lexiles and reading growth
Library Services Provides Access To Online Resources From Home
It's not always easy to find online resources that can help students with their schoolwork. That's why HISD's Library Services Department makes a variety of resources available.
Now teachers, staff, students and parents can access these resources from home!
When these resources are accessed from a computer located on an HISD network, you will not need a login ID or password.
• To access the online resources from home, a login ID and password are required. For login ID and password information, you may contact:
• Your school librarian, or call Library Services at 713-861-1204.
• You will be able to find magazine articles, maps, timelines, graphs, photos, charts, and all sorts of other educational materials to help students get the most from their coursework
• A list of resource links and details on what each provide is located on the Library Services Department Web site: Online Resources. You may find a link to these resources in the Parent Information Channel.
Lexiled Databases
EBSCO
Grolier Online
ProQuest
Thompson Gale
Leveled DatabaseLeveled Database
NetTrekker
Within the HISD network passwords are not needed.
You will need them for Home Access.
Username: houstonisd
Password: dynamos
Communicating with Parents
• Don’t get too focused on numbers – ranges are important.
• Give examples of books and other text materials.
• Talk about where the student is now, but also where they are going!
Communicating with Parents
• Emphasize that The Lexile Framework does not address:– interest,– age appropriateness,– text support, or– text quality.– It looks only at text difficulty – books– should always be previewed.
Communicating with Parents
• Finally, explain that The Lexile Framework is a tool for matching readers with appropriately challenging text, not a reading program.
FUTURE• Automation system enhancements
– Library management – Student management
• Customized reading growth charts• Differentiated reports, Aprenda, Stanford, Texas
Assessment of Knowledge and Skills, Scholastic Reading Inventory
• Increased databases with Lexile feature– EBSCO– ProQuest– Gale– NetTrekker– Grolier
• Individualized Summer Reading Lists designed to grow the reading ability of our students.