Understanding the Lexile Framework- the Pros & Cons
Watch this as a presentation by clicking the video link below. At minute 0:12:00, take a tour of Lexile.com to see our favorite tools in action!
Introduction to Lexile Levels
Lexile levels, often referred to as Lexile measures, are a standardized method for measuring both a reader's ability and the difficulty of a text. This system, called the Lexile Framework®, was created by a company called MetaMetrics®. Lexile measures are widely used in schools to help teachers, parents, and students understand and match reading materials to an individual student’s reading ability.
Lexile measures are expressed as a number followed by the letter L (850L). These numbers range from below 0L (for emergent readers) to 1700L (for advanced readers). Research shows that the texts students will see entering college and the work force begin at 1300L. Since we have moved away from balance literacy and leveled readers, we need a system to talk about student reading ability and text complexity.
This is a system that can guide teachers in selecting suitable texts for students. However, it should not be the single defining factor. Let’s dive in and talk about the what, the how, the good, the bad, and the ugly of the Lexile Framework.
The What: Understanding Lexile Measures
The Lexile Framework® operates on two key components:
The Reader Measure
The Text Measure
1. Reader Measure: This is a score that represents a student's reading ability. It is determined by administering a standardized reading test. These are a few of the assessments that can be given to determine a student’s Lexile Level: MAP Growth Reading Test (NWEA), STAR Reading Test, DIBELS Next (Dynamic Indicators of Basic Early Literacy Skills) – through its Amplify integration, i-Ready Diagnostic, and Achieve3000. The score is based on how well a student can understand and process texts of varying difficulty.
2. Text Measure: This score indicates the complexity of a text. A text’s Lexile level is calculated using a proprietary formula that considers factors such as word frequency and sentence length. These elements are crucial because research shows they are significant indicators of text complexity. A higher Lexile level indicates a more challenging text.
The Lexile Framework measures the reader’s ability and the text difficulty on the same scale. Watch this short explanation video.
How a Student’s Lexile Level is Determined
A Lexile level (or Lexile measure) reflects a student's reading ability on a scale and is attained through an analysis of the student’s ability to read and comprehend texts.
While each of the standardized assessments vary, here's how reading level is generally calculated:
Vocabulary Knowledge: The student's understanding of word meanings in context is assessed. This includes recognizing high-frequency words, less common words, and academic vocabulary.
Sentence Comprehension: This involves understanding sentence structure and how meaning is conveyed through grammar and syntax.
Text Complexity: Students are assessed on their ability to understand texts with increasing complexity, which could include longer, more complex sentences, and texts with higher-level vocabulary and deeper themes.
Reading Comprehension: Students answer questions that test their understanding of the main ideas, details, inferences, and themes of a passage. The focus is on how well they grasp literal meanings and infer deeper meanings from texts.
Reading Fluency: While not directly linked to Lexile levels, fluency in decoding and processing text efficiently can impact comprehension scores, indirectly affecting the Lexile measure.
Specific Items Assessed
Word recognition and decoding skills (for younger students).
Literal comprehension: Can the student accurately answer questions about what is directly stated in the text?
Inferential comprehension: Can the student make inferences or draw conclusions based on the text?
Syntactic understanding: How well does the student understand sentence structures?
Thematic understanding: Can the student grasp the deeper meaning or message of the text?
Each assessment uses different types of questions and algorithms, but all ultimately aim to measure how well a student can comprehend text of various complexities. The results are then translated into a Lexile score, which helps educators determine what level of text the student can successfully read.
You can find out more about student Lexile norms and percentages here.
Text Lexile Levels
Lexile levels are grounded in research that links cognitive processing with text complexity. The development of the Lexile Framework was based on decades of reading research that examined how students interact with text and how various linguistic features contribute to text difficulty.
The two factors used to determine the texts’ Lexile level are word frequency and sentence length.
1. Word Frequency: The Lexile system assesses how often words appear in written language. High-frequency words (like the, ball, because) are easier for students to understand, while low-frequency words (like photosynthesis, continental, justification) are more challenging. The frequency with which words appear across a large corpus of texts is an indicator of how familiar a student is likely to be with those words.
2. Sentence Length: Longer sentences are typically more complex and require more cognitive effort to comprehend. They often contain multiple clauses, more advanced punctuation, and sophisticated syntax, making them harder for students to process.
Applying Lexile Levels in the Classroom
Now we have a student Lexile score and understand the text’s Lexile level, how do we apply this to our classrooms and instruction?
Find the Student Lexile Norms Chart here.
Ways teachers can effectively use Lexile measures:
1. Matching Texts to Readers: The Lexile Framework suggests a range of texts within 50L above and 100L below a student’s Lexile measure as the optimal range for growth. Texts in this range are neither too easy nor too difficult, providing the right amount of challenge to help students develop their reading skills.
2. Differentiated Instruction: Teachers can use Lexile levels to create differentiated reading groups, ensuring that each student works with texts that are appropriate for their reading level. This can help in assigning leveled reading materials for independent reading, flexible small groups, or homework assignments. While this is important, it is equally important that all students are exposed to grade-level texts and teachers are scaffolding and supporting students when those texts are outside of their Lexile range. Read more about text complexity norms here.
3. Monitoring Progress: Over time, teachers can track students’ Lexile levels to monitor growth. If a student’s Lexile measure increases, it indicates that they are becoming more proficient readers. This data can inform instructional decisions and help set reading goals for individual students.
4. Cross-Curricular Use: Since the Lexile Framework® is applicable across subjects, teachers in other disciplines like science and social studies can also use Lexile measures to select appropriate texts for their students. This ensures that students are not only reading at the right level in language arts but across all subjects.
Limitations and Considerations
While Lexile levels are a valuable tool, they have limitations and should be used only as a tool and guide. Here are some limitations of this framework that should be considered.
1. Not a Comprehensive Measure: Lexile levels focus primarily on word frequency and sentence length. They do not account for other factors like the theme, content appropriateness, or the complexity of ideas, which can also impact a text’s difficulty. Teachers should consider these aspects when selecting texts.
2. Diverse Texts: Some texts, especially literature, may have lower Lexile measures but still present challenges due to abstract themes, nuanced language, or cultural references. Teachers should be aware of these complexities and not rely solely on Lexile levels.Of Mice and Men by John Steinbeck has a Lexile level of only 630L. While this novel has a relatively low Lexile level, it deals with deep, mature themes like friendship, loneliness, and moral dilemmas. The vocabulary and sentence structures are straightforward, but the themes are complex, making it emotionally and thematically challenging for readers. Diary of a Wimpy Kid by Jeff Kinney has a Lexile level of 950L!
3. Student Motivation: A student’s interest in a topic can significantly impact their reading comprehension. Highly motivated students might be able to handle texts above their Lexile level, while less motivated students might struggle with texts within their range. Teachers should consider student interests alongside Lexile measures.
4. Labeling and Leveling: Whenever we label and level students, it can be harmful. While it’s important that the teacher knows their students’ reading abilities and ranges, the practice of grouping students by ability, also known as tracking, has been shown to exacerbate inequality. A 2014 study by Gamoran found that tracking leads to fewer opportunities for students in lower groups, limiting access to rigorous content and reducing the likelihood of upward mobility in reading skills.
Teachers can use Lexile information to guide instruction, but this should not be the only thing that is taken into account for planning reading lessons and matching students with texts. The Limits of Lexile is a video with an important message about leveling.
Favorite Lexile Resources and Links
There are some really great tools provided by Meta Metrics® to help teachers understand and use the Lexile Framework®. Head to lexile.com to explore these and much more. Watch this video for a tour of the site and these resources.
Grade Level Charts (shows beginning, middle, and end-of-the-year grade level norms and percentiles)
Text Analyzer (must purchase subscription for $17.99 USD/Year)
Conclusion
Lexile levels are a powerful tool that can help teachers tailor reading instruction to meet the needs of individual students. By understanding the research behind Lexile measures and their application in the classroom, you can make informed decisions about text selection and instructional strategies. However, Lexile levels are just one piece of the puzzle, and they should be used in conjunction with knowledgeable, compassionate teachers who understand the complexities of reading instruction.
