The Lexile Framework for Reading is a scientific approach to measuring readers and reading materials. A key part of the Lexile Framework is a number called the Lexile measure. The Lexile measure reflects the difficulty of a text -- a book or newspaper article, for example. A Lexile measure also indicates a student's current 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 current reading ability-- whether that 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. "750L"), and is place on the Lexile scale. The Lexile scale ranges from 200L for a beginning reader to 1700L for advanced texts. Additionally some Lexile Codes are used.
The Lexile Framework, which includes both the Lexile measure and Lexile scale, is not an instructional program any more than a thermometer is a medical treatment. But just as a thermometer can be useful in managing medical care, the Lexile Framework can be useful in managing your child's reading development.
Lexiles are in use in thousands of schools. All major standardized reading tests and several popular instructional reading programs report their results in Lexiles. Some schools include Lexile measures with report cards, test results and home reading materials.
Lexile measures do not translate specifically to grade levels. Within any classroom, there will be a range of readers and a range of materials to be read. For example, in a fifth-grade classroom, there will be some readers that are far ahead of the rest, and some readers far below the rest. To say that some books are "just right" for fifth graders assumes that all fifth graders are reading at the same level. Lexiles track a student's reading progress over time, no matter what grade they are in.
Lexile measures allow you to manage your child's reading comprehension by matching him or her to appropriately challenging texts. Matching your child's Lexile measure to a text with the same Lexile measure leads to an expected 75-percent comprehension rate -- not too difficult to be frustrating, but difficult enough to encourage reading progress. You can further help your child by knowing his or her Lexile range. A reader's recommended Lexile range is 50L above and 100L below their Lexile measure. These are the boundaries between the easiest kind of reading material for your child and the hardest level at which he or she can read successfully.
Once you have your child's Lexile measure, you can connect him or her to tens of thousands of books and tens of millions or articles that have Lexile measures. Our district has access to online periodical databases where you can search for these articles by Lexile measure.
For books, the Lexile Book Database (at www.Lexile.com) can be used to both find books and create booklists. The Horry County School Online Catalog also provides a Lexile range search for book titles owned by the district. These free databases allow you to search for books by keyword, title, author, Lexile range, and other criteria. You can search for specific titles based on your child's Lexile measure, and use keywords of interest to your child, knowing that the selections will be appropriate to your child's current reading ability.
We have created a brief tutorial on how to use the HCS Online Library Catalog to locate books using a Lexile Measure and/or a subject search. How to use the HCS Online Library Catalog with Lexile Measures.
- Ensure that your child gets plenty of reading practice, concentrating on material within his or her Lexile range. Ask your child's teacher or school librarian to recommend a list of books in your child's range, or search the Lexile Book Database or HCS Online Library Catalog.
- Communicate with your child's teachers and school librarian about his or her reading needs and accomplishments. They can use the Lexile scale to let you know their assessment of your child's reading ability.
- When a reading assignment proves too challenging for your child, use activities to help. For example, review the words and definitions from the glossary, and the review questions at the end of a chapter before your child reads the text. Afterwards, be sure to return to the glossary and review questions to make certain your child understood the material.
- Celebrate your child's reading accomplishments. One of the great things about the Lexile Framework is that it provides an easy way for readers to keep track of their own growth and progress. You and your child can set goals for reading--sticking to a reading schedule, reading a book at a higher Lexile measure, trying new kinds of books and articles, or reading a certain number of pages per week. When your child hits the goal, make an occasion of it!
The Lexile Framework for Reading
The Lexile Framework is an indispensable part of any child's reading development. Lexiles take the guesswork our of matching your child with appropriately challenging reading materials. If you know your child's Lexile measure, you can tell with a great deal of accuracy which books will encourage reading progress. The Lexile Framework is supported by many products, tools and services.
To find out more about The Lexile Framework for Reading, visit the Lexile web site at www.Lexile.com or talk with your child's school librarian.
| Please Note: Lexile measures do not consider age-appropriateness, interest, and prior knowledge, which are key factors when matching children and adolescents to books they might like to read and are able to read. Teachers, librarians, or parents knowledgeable about books are invaluable to the book selection process. |