Using Lexiles to Improve Student Achievement. Why Should We Care About Reading? Life’s Demands for Literacy Continuing Education Workplace Citizenship

Using Lexiles to Improve Student Achievement

Why Should We Care About Reading? Life’s Demands for Literacy

Continuing Education Workplace Citizenship

NAEP, Grade 4-2005

Lifelong Reading CD-DVD Player Instructions (1080L) Microsoft Window User Manual (1150L) GM Protection Plan (1150) Installing Your Child Safety Seat (1170L) Federal Tax Form W-4 (1260L) Application for a student loan (1270L) Medical Insurance Benefits Pkg. (1280L) SAT (1330L) GED (1060L)

Newspapers USA Today (1200L) Chicago Tribune (1310L) Wall Street Journal (1320L) The Washington Post (1350L) New York Times (1380L)

Source: Dr. William R. Daggett

Comprehension n 1: an ability to understand the

meaning or importance of something (or the knowledge acquired as a result); "how you can do that is beyond my comprehension"; "he was famous for his comprehension of American literature"

What are Lexiles? A Lexile is a standard unit for A Lexile is a standard unit for measuring the measuring the comprehensibility of textcomprehensibility of text

Semantics (meaning)Semantics (meaning)

Syntax (sentence structure)Syntax (sentence structure)

A Lexile measure or range can A Lexile measure or range can also be assigned to a studentalso be assigned to a student

Determining Text Difficulty Semantic DifficultySemantic Difficulty

the frequency of the words in a the frequency of the words in a corpus of written textcorpus of written text

corpus has over 700-million corpus has over 700-million wordswords Syntactic ComplexitySyntactic Complexitythe number of words per the number of words per sentencesentence

longer sentences are more longer sentences are more complex and require more short-complex and require more short-term memory to processterm memory to process

The Lexile Analyzer

Scan text into electronic format

Edit text

Examine words Examine sentences

Calculate Lexile measure

Review text and Lexile measure

The Lexile Map

The Lexile Framework

The Lexile MapThe Lexile Analyzer

LinkingTechnology

LexiledReadingAssessments

The Lexile Framework An educational tool that links An educational tool that links text and readers under a text and readers under a common metriccommon metric• Characterizes reader with a Characterizes reader with a measure and text with a measure and text with a measuremeasure• Allows educators to forecast the Allows educators to forecast the level of comprehension a reader is level of comprehension a reader is expected to experience with a expected to experience with a particular textparticular text

Why the Lexile Framework is Different

Readability based on entire text Readability based on entire text of each book or documentof each book or document

• Individual reading ability is Individual reading ability is measured through tests that measured through tests that correspond to the same scalecorrespond to the same scale

• Applied “universally”Applied “universally”

How does the Lexile Framework build literacy

communities?

Uses credible and accepted Uses credible and accepted researchresearch• Builds partnershipsBuilds partnerships

• Collaborates with key stakeholdersCollaborates with key stakeholders

Overall Goal of Lexiles is to…

… … create create Text AccessibilityText Accessibility, a , a marriage between student ability and marriage between student ability and text level so that students can access text level so that students can access content information.content information.

Lexiles

• Match readers to textMatch readers to text

• A tool for differentiationA tool for differentiation

• Allow teachers to prepare Allow teachers to prepare students to work with more students to work with more difficult textsdifficult texts

Lexiles Do Not Address

• Student interestStudent interest

• Age-appropriatenessAge-appropriateness

Text supportText support

Quality of textQuality of text

Prior KnowledgePrior Knowledge

Other Considerations

Aspects of text that influence a Aspects of text that influence a student’s performance:student’s performance:

Difficulty of the text at handDifficulty of the text at hand

• Presence or lack of illustrationPresence or lack of illustration

• Length of a book or articleLength of a book or article

• Density and type size of the textDensity and type size of the text

• Topic, genre, author and so onTopic, genre, author and so on

Question to Ask?

Does the reader comprehend the text because the reader is able, or because the text is easy?

Determining a Student’sLexile Range

Independent ReadingIndependent ReadingRange of difficulty should be . . .Range of difficulty should be . . .50 Lexiles above to 100 Lexiles below50 Lexiles above to 100 Lexiles below

Instructional ReadingInstructional ReadingRange of difficulty should be . . .Range of difficulty should be . . .50 to 150 Lexiles above50 to 150 Lexiles above

Three Key Concepts

Reading AbilityReading Ability

The cognitive set students use to construct The cognitive set students use to construct meaning from text as measured on tests. (75% meaning from text as measured on tests. (75% comprehension)comprehension)

ReadabilityReadability

The difficulty of reading materials based on The difficulty of reading materials based on dimensions or characteristics of the text. (Reader dimensions or characteristics of the text. (Reader measure needed to experience 75% comprehension)measure needed to experience 75% comprehension)

Reading ComprehensionReading Comprehension

The construction of new meaning from local text.The construction of new meaning from local text.

Placing a Reader on the Lexile Map

Harcourt Assessment – SAT-10, SAT-9, MAT-8 CTB/McGraw Hill – TeraNova Assessment Series Scholastic – SRI Northwest Evaluation Assoc. – Achievement Level

Test, MAP NC Dept. of Public Instruction – End-of-grade-tests Texas Educ. Agency – Texas Assessment of

Knowledge and Skills California Dept. of Educ. – CA Standards Test Oregon Dept. of Educ. – OR Reading/Literature

Knowledge and Skills Test

The Unification of Reading

Book Publishers…Holt, DK, McGrawHill Databases…EBSCO, ProQuest, Questia Assessment…NWEA, Harcourt, Pearson Book Distributors…Follett, B&T, Bowker Textbook Publishers…Prentice Hall,

Scott Foresman

Questions to Answer

What is the Lexile range of What is the Lexile range of students in your classroom?students in your classroom?

• Can you develop 2 or 3 Lexile targets?Can you develop 2 or 3 Lexile targets?

Lexile Tools

Lexile Book DatabaseLexile Book Database

Lexile AnalyzerLexile Analyzer

Lexile CalculatorLexile Calculator

Lexile Power VocabularyLexile Power Vocabulary

Lexile Reading PathfindersLexile Reading Pathfinders

Lexile Tools

Lexile Book Database Lexile Analyzer Lexile Calculator Lexile Power Vocabulary Lexile Reading Pathfinders

Go to www.lexile.com

Click educators

The Lexile Book Database

Lexile Book Database

Click Lexile Book Database

Textbook Search

Click Textbook Search

Textbook Search

Enter Lexile Range

Type in Keywords

You may enter a specific publisher

Textbook SearchChoose Sort By

Lexile and Results per page

Then pressSearch

Textbook SearchClick on Title for

more details

Textbook Details

Now click on Book Search

Book Search by Title

2. Sort by Lexile and

Select Results per page

1. Enter Title

3. Click Search

Search ResultsClick on a

title to view details

Book Details

Search by Author

1. Enter Author

2. Sort by Lexile and

Select Results per

page

3. Click Search

Search Results: 32 Books 590L – 960L

Search by Lexile Rangeand Keyword

Enter Lexile Range:

450-1200

Enter Keyword:life cycles

Search ResultsLetters in the

Lexile measure?

Click here

Explanation of Lexile Codes

Advanced Book Search

Click here

Book Type Options

Drop down menu

Developmental Rating Options

Drop down menu

Lexile Tools

Lexile Book Database Lexile Analyzer Lexile Calculator Lexile Power Vocabulary Lexile Reading Pathfinders

Go to www.lexile.com

Click educators

Creating Documents for the Online Analyzer

1. Create a text document2. Save the document as “text only”

(*.txt)

3. You are now ready to use the online analyzer to determine the Lexile measure of the text

Saving Documents to Analyze

You must save your

document as Text Only

Lexile Analyzer

Click Lexile Analyzer

Sign In

You must register

first

Registration is Easy

Lexile Analyzer

Click Browse… to find your file

Insert the DocumentLocate your document

Double click on the

document

Analyze the Text

Click Analyze

The document is inserted

The Results

Lexile Tools Lexile Book Database Lexile Analyzer Lexile Calculator Lexile Power Vocabulary Lexile Reading Pathfinders

Lexile Calculator Can forecast comprehension

Identifies the relationship between the reader and the text

Predicts how well the reader will comprehend the material in the text

Can perform the following calculations: The rate at which a student is expected to

comprehend of the text The reading ability a reader is expected to need

in order to comprehend the text at a specific level

Lexile Calculator

0.00

0.20

0.40

0.60

0.80

1.00

-1000 -750 -500 -250 0 250 500 750

Reader - Text (in Lexiles)

Fore

cast

ed C

ompr

ehen

sion

Rat

e

Lexile Calculator

0.00

0.20

0.40

0.60

0.80

1.00

-1000 -750 -500 -250 0 250 500 750

Reader - Text (in Lexiles)

Fore

cast

ed C

ompr

ehen

sion

Rat

e

Lexile Calculator

Formula for the X axis: Reader measure – Text measure =

Lexiles

Examples: Reader (1230L) – Text (890L) = 340 L

Reader (890L) – Text (1230L) = -340 L

minus

(easy)

(difficult)

Calculation for X Axis

1230

- 890

340

Reader

Text

Lexile difference

890

- 1230

-340

Note: The Lexile difference can be a positive or negative number

ForecastedComprehension RatesReader measure – text calibration = O Lexiles

75% comprehension rate

Reader measure – text calibration = -250 Lexiles


Reader measure – text calibration = +250 Lexiles


Lexile Calculator

Click here

Access the Lexile Calculator

Click here

Calculating Expected Comprehension Rate

1. Select grade level

3. Enter Lexile range and Submit

2. Select top button

Forecasted Comprehension

Blue bar indicates comprehension

range

Titles in Book Bag

Scroll down to view Book Bag

Titles

Calculating Required Lexile Measure for Selected Comprehension Rate

1. Select grade level

2. Select bottom button

3. Enter comprehension range and Submit

Lexile Measure Required to Meet Comprehension Rate

Blue bar indicates required Lexile

measure


Power Vocabulary Program

Vocabulary List Pronunciation Part of Speech Definition(s) Three examples of the word used in

context Activities

Word Search Crossword Puzzle Word-Definition Matching

Assessment

Lexile Power Vocabulary

Click on Lexile Power Vocabulary

Lexile Power Vocabulary

Click on Words, Activities, or Answer Key

Find the Title

PowerV

Word Search

Crossword Puzzle

Matching Activity

Assessment

Teacher Answer Key


Lexile Reading Pathfinders

Click Lexile Reading Pathfinders to View

Collections

Sports Achievers Biographies

Each list indicates Level, Lexile, Title,

and Author

Three Ways to Apply Lexiles to Lexiled Databases

1. Use the Lexile Reading Level DropDown Box

2. Enter Lexile Reading Score3. Use Field Codes (lx 800-1100)

1. Use the Lexile ReadingLevel Drop Down Box

Enter topic and select a Lexile range

Search Results

Number of Articles

Lexile measure

2. Use the Lexile Reading Score Box

Use hyphen before or after

the Lexile

Note:Hyphen before the Lexile limits the search to material at or below that Lexile

Hyphen after the Lexile limits the search to material at or above that Lexile

Search ResultsNumber of Articles Lexile

measure

Choose a New Database

Choose Database

Health Source Database

Select Health Source

3. Use Field Codes – Range

Enter topic and Lexile rangelx 800-1100

Formula for Lexile Range:“and lx Lexile-Lexile”

Search Results

Number of Articles

Lexile measure

Field Codes – Maximum

Enter topic and Lexile maximum

lx -1100

Formula for Lexile Maximum:“and lx -Lexile”

Search Results

Number of Articles

Lexile measure

Field Codes – Minimum

Enter topic and Lexile minimum

lx 1100-

Formula for Lexile Minimum:“and lx Lexile-”

Search Results

Number of Articles Lexile

measure

Did We Meet Our Goals?

1. What is the relationship between Lexiles and student comprehension?

2. How can Lexiles help match readers to texts?

3. Could you use the Lexile measure of each student to access appropriate reading materials for meeting South Carolina’s content standards?

4. How can you access Lexiled research databases?

What is Differentiated Instruction?

A Teacher’s Response to Learners’ Needs

Teachers can differentiateContent -- Process -- Product

According to students’Readiness – Interests -- Learning Profiles

Lexiles

Differentiated Instruction

Teacher Decision Making

What an I teaching?

How will I teach?

Who am I teaching?

South Carolina – Social Studies – Grade 6 GR6 - 6-3.2. Explain the development of English

government and legal practices, including the principles of the Magna Carta, its effect on the feudal system, and its contribution to the development of representative government in England. (P, H)

850L – 1150L

The Making of the Magna Carta Junior Scholastic March 22, 1999 5 pages Presents a play depicting the

making of Great Britain’s Magna Carta under King John of England in the 1200’s

500L

Survey of the Magna Carta Book – Events of the Middle Ages © 2002 3 pages Discusses the Magna Carta, the

charter signed by British King John in 1215 which outlined the feudal privileges…

770L

The Meaning of the Magna Carta since 1215 History Today September, 2003 7 pages Considers how and why the Magna

Carta, the great charter of liberty granted by King John in 1215 that placed the English king under the law… 1350L

Magna Carta: Exemplification of 1215 Article taken from Events of the Middle

Ages 2002 10 pages Reproduces the translation of the

Exemplification of 1215, the Magna Carta, also called the Great Charter, from the original Latin. Abuses of power … 1550L

How must I assist my teachers in the effective use of Lexiles to increase student achievement?

Instructional Reading

Just as shoes must fit correctly for comfortable walking, books must match student readability for effective comprehension.