Using Lexiles to Improve Student Achievement

Why Should We Care About Reading? Life’s Demands for Literacy Continuing Education Workplace Citizenship NAEP, Grade

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 measuring the comprehensibility of text A Lexile is a standard unit for measuring the comprehensibility of text  Semantics (meaning)  Syntax (sentence structure) A Lexile measure or range can also be assigned to a student A Lexile measure or range can also be assigned to a student

Determining Text Difficulty Semantic Difficulty Semantic Difficulty  the frequency of the words in a corpus of written text  corpus has over 700-million words Syntactic Complexity Syntactic Complexity  the number of words per sentence  longer sentences are more complex and require more short-term memory to process

The Lexile Analyzer Scan text into electronic format Edit text Examine wordsExamine sentences Calculate Lexile measure Review text and Lexile measure

The Lexile Map

The Lexile Framework The Lexile MapThe Lexile Analyzer Linking Technology Lexiled Reading Assessments

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

Why the Lexile Framework is Different Readability based on entire text of each book or document Readability based on entire text of each book or document Individual reading ability is measured through tests that correspond to the same scale Individual reading ability is measured through tests that correspond to the same scale Applied “universally” Applied “universally”

How does the Lexile Framework build literacy communities? Uses credible and accepted research Uses credible and accepted research Builds partnerships Builds partnerships Collaborates with key stakeholders Collaborates with key stakeholders

Overall Goal of Lexiles is to… … create Text Accessibility, a marriage between student ability and text level so that students can access content information.

Lexiles Match readers to text Match readers to text A tool for differentiation A tool for differentiation Allow teachers to prepare students to work with more difficult texts Allow teachers to prepare students to work with more difficult texts

Lexiles Do Not Address Student interest Student interest Age-appropriateness Age-appropriateness Text support Text support Quality of text Quality of text Prior Knowledge Prior Knowledge

Other Considerations Aspects of text that influence a student ’ s performance: Difficulty of the text at hand Difficulty of the text at hand Presence or lack of illustration Presence or lack of illustration Length of a book or article Length of a book or article Density and type size of the text Density and type size of the text Topic, genre, author and so on Topic, 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’s Lexile Range Independent Reading Range of difficulty should be Lexiles above to 100 Lexiles below Independent Reading Range of difficulty should be Lexiles above to 100 Lexiles below Instructional Reading Range of difficulty should be to 150 Lexiles above Instructional Reading Range of difficulty should be to 150 Lexiles above

Three Key Concepts Reading Ability The cognitive set students use to construct meaning from text as measured on tests. (75% comprehension) The cognitive set students use to construct meaning from text as measured on tests. (75% comprehension)Readability The difficulty of reading materials based on dimensions or characteristics of the text. (Reader measure needed to experience 75% comprehension) The difficulty of reading materials based on dimensions or characteristics of the text. (Reader measure needed to experience 75% comprehension) Reading 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 students in your classroom? What is the Lexile range of students in your classroom? Can you develop 2 or 3 Lexile targets? Can you develop 2 or 3 Lexile targets?

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

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

Go to Click educators The Lexile Book Database

Lexile Book Database Click Lexile Book Database

Textbook Search Click Textbook Search

Enter Lexile Range Type in Keywords You may enter a specific publisher

Textbook Search Choose Sort By Lexile and Results per page Then press Search

Textbook Search Click 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 Results Click 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 Range and Keyword Enter Lexile Range: Enter Keyword: life cycles

Search Results Letters 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 Click educators

Creating Documents for the Online Analyzer 1. Create a text document 2. 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 Document Locate 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

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

Forecasted Comprehension Rates Reader measure – text calibration = O Lexiles 75% comprehension rate Reader measure – text calibration = -250 Lexiles 50% comprehension rate Reader measure – text calibration = +250 Lexiles 90% comprehension rate

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

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

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 Tools Lexile Book Database Lexile Analyzer Lexile Calculator Lexile Power Vocabulary 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 Drop Down Box 2. Enter Lexile Reading Score 3. Use Field Codes (lx )

1.Use the Lexile Reading Level 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 Results Number 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 range lx Formula for Lexile Range: “and lx Lexile-Lexile”

Search Results Number of Articles Lexile measure

Field Codes – Maximum Enter topic and Lexile maximum lx Formula for Lexile Maximum: “and lx -Lexile”

Search Results Number of Articles Lexile measure

Field Codes – Minimum Enter topic and Lexile minimum lx 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 differentiate Content -- 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 GR 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, 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 © 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, 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 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.