Using Lexiles

Sometimes the Lexile is on the back of the book.

Lexile measures offer information about a book’s text complexity. A Lexile text measure is based on the semantic and syntactic characteristics of a text. Readers can use Lexile measures to select titles that best match their unique ability level and reading goals. Recognized as the global standard for matching readers with texts, tens of millions of students worldwide receive Lexile measures that help them find targeted readings from the more than 100 million articles, books and websites that have been measured. Lexile measures range from below 200L for early reader text to above 2000L for more advanced text.
~"Publishers Adopt Lexile Reading Metric to Level Children's Content", DBW

You may have seen "levels" on children's books before - Easy Readers in particular often have classifications such as "Level 2, Green Light Readers: Start the engine!  Reading with help (short sentences, creative stories, simple dialogue)".  ABC Library also offers grade level-reading lists.  But now, librarians keep hearing more and more questions about Lexiles.

In the past, many children were encouraged to read at their grade equivalent - "scores based on the performance of students in the test's norming group"*.  Lexiles "represent a student's level on a developmental scale of reading ability... Struggling students are not stigmatized with a grade equivalent that labels them as 'below grade.' Rather, students have an independent Lexile measure and can select appropriately difficult books within their Lexile range."*

MetaMetrics, a North Carolina based company, developed the Lexile Framework. These ratings have been created after 20 years of research funded by the National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, measuring reading ability and text complexity in tandem, rather than just text complexity. It has been adopted by departments of education in nearly half the states and school districts in all 50 states. The Common Core State Standards provide Lexile reading bands for reading comprehension development.

If you don't know your child's Lexile measurement, there are sites that will help you find out what it is! The Lexile Framework for Reading's Find a Book just asks you to submit your child's grade and whether they find the books they are reading for school difficult, easy, or just right. Then you choose a category that represents your child's interests, and you are presented with the Lexile and some recommended books.  On the same site, if you are a registered user, you can use the Lexile Analyzer - type or scan a text to find its Lexile measure.

Sometimes the Lexile is with the copyright information.

Many publishers will provide Lexile measurements, including Scholastic, HarperCollins Publishers, Penguin Young Readers, Random House Children’s Books, Simon & Schuster, Macmillan Publishers, and Chronicle Books.

Links

The Lexile Framework for Reading*

MetaMetrics: The Lexile Framework for Reading 

New Mexico Public Education Department: The Lexile Framework for Reading

NoveList K-8 Plus: Lexiles [an eResource, available free with your valid library card]

Lexile Levels Made Easy [Scholastic]

Barnes & Noble's Lexile Reading Level Wizard

TOEFL Lexile Measures

Common Core

Forty-three states, the District of Columbia, four territories, and the Department of Defense Education Activity (DoDEA, a civilian agency of the United States Department of Defense that manages all schools for military children), have adopted the Common Core State Standards. This includes New Mexico - the standards were adopted in 2010 by the New Mexico Public Education Department, with full implementation expected during the current school year.

What are the Common Core standards?  Well, we don't pretend to be experts, but here's what we've read:

The Common Core is a set of high-quality academic standards in mathematics and English language arts/literacy (ELA). These learning goals outline what a student should know and be able to do at the end of each grade. The standards were created to ensure that all students graduate from high school with the skills and knowledge necessary to succeed in college, career, and life, regardless of where they live.

The standards are:

1. Research and evidence based
2. Clear, understandable, and consistent
3. Aligned with college and career expectations
4. Based on rigorous content and the application of knowledge through higher-order thinking skills
5. Built upon the strengths and lessons of current state standards
6. Informed by other top-performing countries to prepare all students for success in our global economy and society

The standards focus on core concepts and procedures starting in the early grades, which gives teachers the time needed to teach them and gives students the time needed to master them.

For grades K-8, grade-by-grade standards exist in English language arts/literacy and mathematics. For grades 9-12, the standards are grouped into grade bands of 9-10 grade standards and 11-12 grade standards.*

The Common Core seeks "that more classroom time and attention be devoted to helping the student to become a well-rounded learner who understands what teachers are asking them to do, can solve the problem and explain how they did it, not just memorize and repeat the answer,"** with an emphasis on the student's listening carefully, being diligent and disciplined, and using creativity. Classroom and state assessments will be similar to what they are now, but the kinds of questions and the forms of student's answers will change, involving much more use of computers and technology, less multiple choice, and class projects may be considered in the assessment. Each state has its own website which provides information about how the standards are being implemented, assessments, supports for teachers, and help for students.

The information provided about the standards can be dense, but there are resources for parents available on both the standards initiative site and the state website.  There are also resources available for checkout from the library catalog: Common Core language arts and math materials and Common Core materials for teachers.

Links

Common Core State Standards Initiative*

New Mexico Common Core State Standards**

Common Core Video FAQ

Everything You Need To Know About the Common Core - Diane Ravitch [Washington Post]

What will sink and what will survive as states test the Common Core? [PBS]

No Common Opinion on the Common Core [Education Next]

Common Core Reading: 'The New Colossus' [NPR, part 1 in a 4-part series]

Common Core, in 9 Year Old Eyes [New York Times]

Back to School

The new school year is in full swing, and here at abcreads, we like to celebrate by highlighting some of the many print and online resources available to help our students succeed. In addition to homework help, test prep, and research databases, we have a wealth of materials to help with the challenges of going back to school.

Sometimes students aren’t the only ones who could use a little guidance. Our parents and teachers work just as hard, and we have resources for them, too!

Check out some of our lesser known gems:

For Students

Beyond Googling: In today's digital world, it's becoming increasingly important that we can find accurate, credible materials online. Our article databases provide access to high-quality periodicals and peer-reviewed journals that are great for older students. Check out our printable user guide with information and search strategies. UC Berkeley also has a good tutorial on how to evaluate a website.

Got a current events project? Opposing Viewpoints and Points of View are great places to start your research. They have a variety of primary sources and essays that shows both sides of the issue.

If you need biographies in a pinch, we have databases of those, too.


For Parents

Is your child struggling with stress and time management? Or dealing with a bully? We have a books in our catalog geared towards both parents and students to help handle these important issues.

If you're looking for a free afterschool activity, we host a ton of events for children and teens. Do you have a struggling young reader? Read to the Dogs can help them improve their skills and boost their confidence.

Need resources on life lessons or tricky situations? Check our online catalog for children's books on topics such as manners, respecting others, and handling friendships.

For Teachers

Our libraries regularly host classroom visits that introduce your students to the library with stories and crafts. 

Do you work at a Title I school or work with special needs students? Thanks to the Thomason Transportation Program, you can get free transportation
to and from the library.

Novelist K-8 Plus is an excellent website to turn to when you're looking for books for your classroom. Check out their professional toolbox for help finding Common Core content.

You can find all of these and more on our teacher and educator resources webpage.