Lexile: The Basics
A Lexile measure is information about either an individual's reading ability or the difficulty of a text. If we know how well a student can read and how hard a specific book is to comprehend, we can predict how well that student will likely understand the book.
At SMS, students take the Northwest Evaluation Association (NWEA) test three times a year to monitor their reading comprehension skills and strategies. The NWEA test also gives each student their Lexile reader measure at the end of each testing session.
A text, on the other hand, gets a Lexile text measure. A Lexile text measure is based on word frequency and sentence length. However, other factors affect the relationship between a reader and a book, including its content, the age and interests of the reader, and the design of the actual book. The Lexile text measure is a good starting point in the book-selection process, but the other factors should not be ignored.
How to Use Lexile Measures
When a Lexile text measure matches a Lexile reader measure, the reader will likely encounter some level of difficulty with the text, but not enough to get frustrated. This is the best way to grow as a reader—with text that's not too hard but not too easy.
When your child receives a Lexile reader measure range, try not to focus on the exact number. Instead, consider a reading range around the number. Don't be afraid to look at books above and below someone's Lexile range.