REPORTS

Taking Lexiles to the Taking Lexiles to the Next LevelNext Level

Phil CollinsPhil Collins

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A Lexile is…A Lexile is…

A unit for measuring text difficulty that is linked to the RIT score, Northwest Evaluation Association’s unit for measuring reading comprehension.

These links allow teachers to use the student’s RIT score to find books, periodicals, and other reading materials that will be appropriately challenging for each student.

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What Lexile measures…What Lexile measures…

Semantic DifficultySemantic Difficulty As measured by the As measured by the frequencyfrequency

with which each word in a with which each word in a measured text appears in Lexile’s measured text appears in Lexile’s database of 200 million wordsdatabase of 200 million words

Syntactic ComplexitySyntactic Complexity As measured by As measured by sentence lengthsentence length

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The Lexile doesn’t evaluate…The Lexile doesn’t evaluate… GenreGenre

Students moving to a new genre may need more Students moving to a new genre may need more teacher support to read effectively.teacher support to read effectively.

ThemeTheme A low Lexile score doesn’t mean the book’s theme is A low Lexile score doesn’t mean the book’s theme is

appropriate for the reader.appropriate for the reader. ContentContent

Students encountering new content or topics may Students encountering new content or topics may need to have new vocabulary and concepts pre-need to have new vocabulary and concepts pre-taught.taught.

InterestInterest Students will tend to be more motivated when they Students will tend to be more motivated when they

can self-select reading material or it is a topic that can self-select reading material or it is a topic that interests them.interests them.

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A number (Lexile) can’t be the A number (Lexile) can’t be the only guiding factor for helping only guiding factor for helping students select books; other students select books; other

factors include:factors include:Age-appropriateness of content Age-appropriateness of content Background of experienceBackground of experienceFamiliarity/knowledge of subjectFamiliarity/knowledge of subjectVocabularyVocabularyDevelopmental levelDevelopmental levelPurpose and motivationPurpose and motivation

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…the level of text that a student can read with 75% comprehension. For a student with a RIT of 205, books with a 600 Lexile provide an excellent match with the student’s instructional level.

The book, After the Rain by Norma Mazer is a 600L text.

The Lexile score represents…The Lexile score represents…

LexileNWEA

RIT

202-208

500L

650L

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Look at the Lexile as a Look at the Lexile as a rangerange of scores…of scores…

The teacher might use the lower part of this range as a target for the student’s independent reading

The upper part of a 500-650L range might be used for the student’s group reading program – guided instruction.

500L

LexileNWEA

RIT

600L

650L

202-208

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}} Guided instruction (+50)Guided instruction (+50) 75% Comprehension75% Comprehension}} Independent (-100) Independent (-100)

LexileNWEA RIT

500L

600L

650L

Guided instruction Guided instruction vs. independent readingvs. independent reading

202-208

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Lexile CodesLexile Codes

BR – Beginning Reading

NC – Non-Conforming Text

AD – Adult Directed

IG - Illustrated Glossary

Handout Page 15

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Examples of Lexile Measures Examples of Lexile Measures of Some Popular Newspapers of Some Popular Newspapers

and Literatureand Literature

24024013301330Gulliver’s TravelsGulliver’s Travels – Jonathon Swift – Jonathon Swift

23323312001200USA TodayUSA Today

24324313801380N.Y.TimesN.Y.Times

22522510801080The Seven Habits of Highly Effective The Seven Habits of Highly Effective PeoplePeople – Stephen Covey – Stephen Covey

216216880880Harry Potter Series – RowlingHarry Potter Series – Rowling

205205680680The FirmThe Firm – John Grisham – John Grisham

Approx. Approx. RITRITLexileLexilewww.Lexile.comwww.Lexile.com

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Lexile LiteratureLexile Literature1500 - On Ancient Medicine1500 - On Ancient Medicine1400 - The Scarlet Letter1400 - The Scarlet Letter1300 - Brown vs. Board of Ed.1300 - Brown vs. Board of Ed.1200 - War and Peace1200 - War and Peace1100 - Pride and Prejudice1100 - Pride and Prejudice1000 - Black Beauty1000 - Black Beauty 900 - Tom Swift in the Land of Wonders900 - Tom Swift in the Land of Wonders 800 - The Adventures of Pinocchio800 - The Adventures of Pinocchio 700 - Bunnicula: A Rabbit Tale of Mystery700 - Bunnicula: A Rabbit Tale of Mystery 600 - A Baby Sister for Frances600 - A Baby Sister for Frances 500 - The Magic School Bus Inside the Earth500 - The Magic School Bus Inside the Earth 400 - Frog and Toad are Friends400 - Frog and Toad are Friends 300 - Clifford’s Manners300 - Clifford’s Manners

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Lexile TextsLexile Texts1500 - The Making of Memory: From Molecules to Mind; Doubleday1500 - The Making of Memory: From Molecules to Mind; Doubleday1400 - Philosophical Essays; Hackett Publishing1400 - Philosophical Essays; Hackett Publishing1300 - Psychology: An Introduction; Prentice Hall1300 - Psychology: An Introduction; Prentice Hall1200 - Business; Prentice Hall1200 - Business; Prentice Hall1100 - America: Pathways to Present; Prentice Hall1100 - America: Pathways to Present; Prentice Hall1000 - Writing and Grammar Gold Level; Prentice Hall1000 - Writing and Grammar Gold Level; Prentice Hall 900 - World Cultures: A Global Mosaic; Prentice Hall900 - World Cultures: A Global Mosaic; Prentice Hall 800 - Word 97; Glencoe/McGraw-Hill800 - Word 97; Glencoe/McGraw-Hill 700 - World Explorer: The U.S. & Canada; Prentice Hall700 - World Explorer: The U.S. & Canada; Prentice Hall 600 - Science (Grade 4); Addison-Wesley600 - Science (Grade 4); Addison-Wesley 500 - People and Places; Silver Burdett Ginn500 - People and Places; Silver Burdett Ginn 400 - Imagine That!; Scholastic Inc.400 - Imagine That!; Scholastic Inc. 300 - My World; Harcourt Brace300 - My World; Harcourt Brace

Personal UsePersonal UseAetna Health Care Discount Form (1360)Aetna Health Care Discount Form (1360)Medical Insurance Benefit Package (1280)Medical Insurance Benefit Package (1280)Application for Student Loan (1270)Application for Student Loan (1270)Federal Tax Form W-4 (1260) Federal Tax Form W-4 (1260) Installing Your Child Safety Seat (1170)Installing Your Child Safety Seat (1170)Microsoft Windows User Manual (1150)Microsoft Windows User Manual (1150)G.M. Protection Plan (1150)G.M. Protection Plan (1150)CD DVD Player Instructions (1080)CD DVD Player Instructions (1080)

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Matching Readers and TextMatching Readers and Text

www.lexile.com

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Tour of Tour of www.lexile.comwww.lexile.com To explore…To explore…

Search by subject matter or Lexile rangeSearch by subject matter or Lexile rangeLiterature for differentiated thematic unitsLiterature for differentiated thematic units

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Lexile.com Lexile.com HomepageHomepage

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Search FeatureSearch Feature

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Author Study ExampleAuthor Study Example

4th grade4th grade Pick an authorPick an author Pull the list of novels by that authorPull the list of novels by that author Using your list of student results, Using your list of student results,

make an instructional reading level make an instructional reading level match between title and student match between title and student lexile levellexile level

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Topic ExampleTopic Example

6th or 7th grade6th or 7th grade Pick a topicPick a topic Pull a list of reading materials on that Pull a list of reading materials on that

topictopic

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Activity Option 1Activity Option 1

Pick an upcoming author, topic or Pick an upcoming author, topic or genre you will be studyinggenre you will be studying

Review the Lexiles of the students in Review the Lexiles of the students in your classyour class

Review the Lexile levels of reading Review the Lexile levels of reading resources available resources available

Develop a plan to integrate the Develop a plan to integrate the reading resources available into your reading resources available into your instructioninstruction

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to compensate for disparities to compensate for disparities between student reading between student reading

comprehension levels and the comprehension levels and the readability of assigned textsreadability of assigned texts

How can content area teachers use Lexiles?

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District 34 Textbook LexilesDistrict 34 Textbook Lexiles

ScienceScience 5th DW-Light & Sound - 9805th DW-Light & Sound - 980 5th DW-Pop. & Ecosystems - 9205th DW-Pop. & Ecosystems - 920 SE - Inside Earth - 1060SE - Inside Earth - 1060 SE - Cells & Heredity - 910SE - Cells & Heredity - 910 SE - From Bacteria to Plants - 1220SE - From Bacteria to Plants - 1220 SE - Chemical Building Blocks – 950SE - Chemical Building Blocks – 950 SE - Electricity & Magnetism - 890SE - Electricity & Magnetism - 890

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District 34 Textbook LexilesDistrict 34 Textbook Lexiles

ScienceScience SE - Astronomy - 970SE - Astronomy - 970 SE - Environmental Science - 1050SE - Environmental Science - 1050 SE - Weather & Climate - 1100SE - Weather & Climate - 1100 SE - Motion, Forces & Energy - 990SE - Motion, Forces & Energy - 990 SE - Chemical Interactions - 1000SE - Chemical Interactions - 1000 SE - Sound & Light - 1010SE - Sound & Light - 1010

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District 34 Textbook LexilesDistrict 34 Textbook Lexiles

Social ScienceSocial Science 4th Explore Our Land – 6704th Explore Our Land – 670 5th Build Our Nation - 9305th Build Our Nation - 930 6th America Will Be - 10706th America Will Be - 1070 7th American Nation - 8807th American Nation - 880 8th World Geography - 10408th World Geography - 1040

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Activity Option 2Activity Option 2 Pick an upcoming unit you will be studyingPick an upcoming unit you will be studying Review the Lexiles of the students in your classReview the Lexiles of the students in your class Review the Lexile levels of content reading of the Review the Lexile levels of content reading of the

upcoming unit upcoming unit Identify the students in your class who are likely Identify the students in your class who are likely

to struggle with the content reading based on to struggle with the content reading based on their Lexilestheir Lexiles

Develop a plan/strategies to help these students Develop a plan/strategies to help these students be successfulbe successful

Research the availability of alternative content Research the availability of alternative content reading materials at a more appropriate Lexile reading materials at a more appropriate Lexile level level

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Dynamic Reporting Suite Dynamic Reporting Suite ResourcesResources

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Lexile ReportLexile Report

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Activity 1 Revisited…Activity 1 Revisited…

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Projected Performance Projected Performance Category by SubjectCategory by Subject

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Create a Custom BooklistCreate a Custom Booklist

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Think ahead…Think ahead…

How will you use Lexiles to change How will you use Lexiles to change what you are currently doing with what you are currently doing with students in your classroom?students in your classroom?

How can you collaborate with other How can you collaborate with other staff (teachers, librarians, etc.)?staff (teachers, librarians, etc.)?

What resources can you access in your What resources can you access in your building and across your district?building and across your district?

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Lexile ResourcesLexile Resourceswww.Lexile.comwww.Lexile.com

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Tour of Tour of www.lexile.comwww.lexile.com To explore later…To explore later…

Teacher tool boxTeacher tool boxLexile Analyzer (textbooks)Lexile Analyzer (textbooks)Power VocabularyPower VocabularySpecialized Pathfinders availableSpecialized Pathfinders available

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Text AnalyzerText Analyzer

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Lexile Teacher’s Lexile Teacher’s ToolboxToolbox

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W = Words, Vocabulary list

S = Student word lists, activities, and assessments

T = Teacher answer keys

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Communicating with Communicating with ParentsParents

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Otis Fulton, Vice-President, MetaMetrics

The number 1 question parents (and students)

ask about the Lexile Framework is “My child scored _____. What does

this mean?”

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Communicating with ParentsCommunicating with Parents

Don’t get too focused on numbers – Don’t get too focused on numbers – ranges are important.ranges are important.

Give examples of books and other Give examples of books and other text materials.text materials.

Talk about where the student is now, Talk about where the student is now, but also where they are going!but also where they are going!

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Communicating with ParentsCommunicating with Parents

Emphasize that the Lexile Framework doesn’t Emphasize that the Lexile Framework doesn’t address:address: interestinterest age appropriatenessage appropriateness text support (pictures)text support (pictures) text qualitytext quality It looks only at text difficulty – books should It looks only at text difficulty – books should

alwaysalways be previewed. be previewed. Is a tool for matching readers with Is a tool for matching readers with

appropriately challenging text, not a reading appropriately challenging text, not a reading programprogram

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QuestionsQuestions