Lexile andText Complexity

TrainingIndian Knoll Elementary

July 2012

What is a Lexile?

A Lexile measure gives valuable information about a child’s reading ability

OR the difficulty of a text.

: :: F:

Two Lexile MeasuresReader and Text

If we know how well a student can read and we know how difficult a book is, we can predict how well that student will likely read the

book.

How is a Text Lexile Calculated?

•word frequency• sentence length

Lexile Limitations• text characteristics (age appropriateness or content, text support, text quality)• reader characteristics (interest and motivation, background knowledge, reading content and purpose)

How can I find a text’s Lexile?

How can I find a

reader’s

Lexile?

Conversion Chart

Conversion Chart

Matching Readers and TextsAt 75% comprehension:

• a reader can have a successful reading experience without frustration or boredom

• a reader can achieve functional comprehension of the text

• a reader will be sufficiently challenged by vocabulary and syntax

Managing Comprehension• Readers can experience frustration

when text readability is 100L+ above their Lexile level.• Readers can experience ease when

text readability is 50-100L below their Lexile level.• Readers can experience growth when

text readability is within their Lexile range.

Target Lexile RangeThe targeted text range is 100L below to 50L above the student’s Lexile level.

leisure reading range: 100 Lexiles below students’ Lexile score

instructional reading range: 50 Lexiles above students’ Lexile score

Staircase of Complexity• Complexity of texts students are expected to read is

below what is required to achieve college and career readiness.• High school textbooks have declined in all subject

areas over the last several decades.• Average length of sentences in K-8 textbooks has

declined from 20 to 14 words.• Vocabulary demands have declined since the 1960s.• 8th grade textbooks = former 5th grade texts• 12th grade anthologies = former 7th grade texts

• Complexity of college and careers texts has remained steady or increased, resulting in a gap (up to 350L).

New vs. OldGrade Current

Lexile BandStretch (CCSS)

Lexile BandK – 1 n/a n/a2 – 3 450L – 725L 450L – 790L4 – 5 645L – 845L 770L – 980L6 – 8 860L – 1010L 955L – 1155L

9 – 10 960L – 1115L 1080L – 1305L11 – CCR 1070L – 1220L 1215L – 1355L

Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone

880L

Postsecondary Options

Box Plots for Selected Text Collections That Informthe Transition from High School to Postsecondary Experience

(Percentiles: 5th, 25th, 50th, 75th, 95th)

600 800 1000 1200 1400 1600 1800

High School (11-12)(n=23)

SAT I, ACT, AP(n=20)

Military (n=22)

Citizenship(n=54)

Workplace(n=1401)

Community College(n=50)

University (13-14)(n=100)

Graduate Record Exam(n=8)

Text

Col

lect

ions

Lexile Text Measures

Lexiles and The News• Associated Press • Reuters • Wall Street Journal • USA Today • Washington Post • NY Times • Chicago Tribune

Lexiles and The News• USA Today (1200L)• Associated Press (1310L)• Chicago Tribune (1310L)• Wall Street Journal (1320L)• Washington Post (1350L)• NY Times (1380L)• Reuters (1440L)

Primary Source DocumentsBill Of RightsDeclaration of IndependenceGettysburg AddressPreamble to the ConstitutionEmancipation ProclamationMagna Carta

1540L1450L1490L1930L 2040L1740L

Lexiles and Lifelong Reading• Installing Your Child Safety Seat • GM Protection Plan • Aetna Health Care Discount Form • Federal Tax Form W-4 • CD-DVD Player Instructions • Application for Student Loan • Medical Insurance Benefit Package • Microsoft Windows User Manual

Lexiles and Lifelong Reading• CD-DVD Player Instructions (1080L)• GM Protection Plan (1150L)• Microsoft Windows User Manual (1150L)• Installing Your Child Safety Seat (1170L)• Federal Tax Form W-4 (1260L)• Application for Student Loan (1270L)• Medical Insurance Benefit Package (1280L)• Aetna Health Care Discount Form (1360L)

Let’s Practice!

Lexile Resources for Teacherswww.lexile.com

Lexile Resources for TeachersLexile Map

Lexile Resources for TeachersGalileo

Lexiles in Destiny

Lexiles in Destiny Quest

Common Core StandardsAppendix A

Remember the limitations of Lexiles???

Common Core Model of Text Complexity

QuantitativeLexile• word frequency• sentence lengthAccelerated Reader• average sentence

length• average word length• vocabulary grade

level• number of words in

book• computer generated

Qualitative• meaning or purpose• structure • language

conventionality• subject matter• levels of meaning• organization• language clarity• prior knowledge

demands• professional judgment

Reader and TaskReader• motivation • knowledge and

experience

Task • teacher’s purpose• types of questions posed• complexity of task

assigned regarding text• complexity of questions

asked regarding text

• professional judgment

Why We Need This Model The Grapes of Wrath

680LTo Kill a Mockingbird

870L

Rubric

Let’s Practice!

How can my media specialist help?

• Helping to develop individualized or classroom reading lists tailored to provide appropriately challenging reading.

• Helping teachers to select a bank of titles at varying levels that support an instructional thematic unit. This allows all students to participate successfully in the theme with material at their own reading level.

• Locating and sequencing materials for classroom use. For example, increasing the difficulty of read-aloud books throughout the year.

RL.2.10. By the end of the year, read and comprehend literature, including stories and poetry, in the grades 2–3 text complexity band proficiently, with scaffolding as needed at the high end of the range.RL.3.10. By the end of the year, read and comprehend literature, including stories, dramas, and poetry, at the high end of the grades 2–3 text complexity band independently and proficiently.

RL.4.10. By the end of the year, read and comprehend literature, including stories, dramas, and poetry, in the grades 4–5 text complexity band proficiently, with scaffolding as needed at the high end of the range.RL.5.10. By the end of the year, read and comprehend literature, including stories, dramas, and poetry, at the high end of the grades 4–5 text complexity band independently and proficiently.