The Lexile Framework Training Module

The Lexile Framework is a scientific approach to reading measurement that matches readers to text. The Lexile Framework measures both reader ability and text difficulty on the same scale, called the Lexile scale.

What is a Lexile? A Lexile is a unit for measuring text difficulty. The word Lexile is a blend of the root word ”Lex”, which refers to words, and echoes the word “percentile”, a comparative unit of measure. The Lexile Framework is a system of measurement that quickly calibrates the difficulty of most any textual material with a high degree of accuracy.

The Lexile Framework Variables Syntactic Complexity the number of words per sentence longer sentences are more complex and require more short term memory to process Semantic Difficulty the frequency of the words in a corpus of written text corpus has over 500-million words

Easy TextHard Text VocabularyFrequently used, simple words Unique words Sentence LengthShort and simple.Longer, multiple clauses, more complex punctuation

The best predictor of the difficulty of a sentence is its length. Longer sentences are likely to contain more clauses, and therefore to communicate not only more information and ideas but an interrelationship between them. Longer sentences require the reader to retain more in short-term memory in order to negotiate meaning. Syntactic Complexity

The difficulty of words is a continuum based on exposure. Knowing the frequency of words provides the the best means of inferring whether a word will become a part of an individual’s vocabulary. Semantic Difficulty

Background Based on analysis of entire text. Created by a team of experts in the fields of measurement, testing and reading. Adopted by National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) as its measure of text difficulty.

SRI Test results are reported in Lexiles The Lexile Number indicates 75% comprehension Books have Lexile Measures Match students and books, and plan instruction with Lexile Ranges Lexile Measures

To promote reading progress To assign the right level of reading materials in all curricular areas As a flexible part of any reading program Connect students to tens of thousands of books Connect students to tens of millions of articles Use Lexiles To:

An educational tool that links text and readers under a common metric, Lexiles 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 The Lexile Map

Classroom Uses Develop individualized reading lists Enhance thematic teaching Use as a tool for sequencing materials Develop a take home reading folder Adjust level of reading for special circumstances Assist in informed choice making for students

Over 450 book publishers have titles with Lexile measures Nearly 50,000 books to search at Over 70 million Lexiled articles through database-services partners Lexile Facts

Forecasted Comprehension The relationship between a reader and a text. 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. The Lexile Calculator

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

Lexiles give educators the confidence to choose materials that will improve student reading skills across the curriculum and at home.