Lexile Measures & MCA Reading Scores Making Test Results Actionable Eleanor E. Sanford-Moore SVP, Research and Development MetaMetrics, Inc. esanford@lexile.com
The Lexile Framework for Reading Research
Lexiles are like inches A universal, accurate measurement system Used to measure a student s current size and growth over time Not grade specific students come in different sizes and grow at different rates
The Lexile Framework for Reading 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
Lexile Framework Components Lexile Analyzer provides the Text Measure Lexile Map Illustrates the Lexile Scale Linking Technology provides the Reader Measure Test of Reading Development
Components of a Lexile Text Measure 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 with which words appear in MetaMetrics Corpus of written text (which contains over 1-billion words) Less familiar words impede reading fluency and affect comprehension
Lexile Comprehension Model Reader Ability (in Lexiles) - Text Readability (in Lexiles) Forecasted Comprehension When RA - TR = 0, Comprehension = 75%
Lexile Comprehension Model Reader Ability - Text Readability = Comprehension Targeted Comprehension = 75% Independent Reading 600L (reader) 600L (text) = 0 (75% forecasted comprehension) Educators can adjust forecasted comprehension by changing the text options given to a reader
The sweet spot for Reading Forecasted Comprehension Rate 100% 80% 60% 40% 20% 0% More Challenging 50% -1000-750 -500-250 0 250 500 750 Reader - Text (in Lexiles) 75 90% Less Challenging
The Lexile Framework Typical range of readers within a classroom 10 th to 90 th percentile About 600 Lexiles Lexile Framework provides a way for teachers to differentiate instruction for all students Lexile measure helps educators determine the amount of scaffolding needed by each student for a successful reading experience
Limitations of Lexile Measures What Lexile text measures don t address Text Characteristics Age-appropriateness of Content Text Support (pictures, pullouts) Text Quality (Is it a good book?) Reader Characteristics Interest and Motivation Background Knowledge Reading Context and Purpose Lexile text measures only measure text readability. Therefore, input from readers, parents, teachers and librarians is necessary.
Lexile Framework Research Postsecondary Demands Common Core and stretch Text Continuum Summer Reading Loss
Williamson, G.L. (2008). A text readability continuum for post-secondary readiness. Journal of Advanced Academics, 19(4), 602-632.
Text Complexity Continuum
Text Complexity Continuum
Common Core Standards Text Complexity Continuum Grades 2-3 450L to 790L Grades 4-5 770L to 980L Grades 6-8 955L to 1155L Grades 9-10 1080L to 1305L Grades 11-12 1215L to 1355L
Summer Learning Research Entwisle, Alexander and Olson (1997) Random sample of 800 Baltimore public school students Children from families of high- and low-ses made equivalent gains on math and reading during the school year Achievement of students from low-income families either fell or stagnated during summer
Summer Learning Research James S. Kim (2006) Project READS randomized field trial Low-income students made summer gains when reading materials were: In students selected area(s) of interest At an appropriate difficulty level Gains comparable to those made in summer school
References Entwisle, D.R., Alexander, K.L. & Olson, L.S. (1997). Children, schools, and inequality. Boulder, CO: Westview Press. Kim, J.S. (2006). Effects of a voluntary summer reading intervention on reading achievement: Results from a randomized field trial. Educational Evaluation and Policy Analysis. 28(4).
The Lexile Framework for Reading MCA-II Linking Study
Lexile Linking Study Lexile Linking Study conducted during the Spring 2010 MCA II test administration Students in select school districts took both the MCA II and the Lexile Linking Test Lexile Linking Test built to be parallel in content to the MCA II Reading Test Same number of items Same overall item difficulty Multiple-choice items
LLT and MCA-II Sample Grade N LLT MCA-II r 3 1,155 671L (236) 362 (19) 0.89 4 1,127 806L (240) 457 (15) 0.89 5 1,323 938L (237) 559 (14) 0.87 6 951 1039L (240) 655 (13) 0.88 7 881 1134L (219) 754 (59) 0.88 8 750 1163L (230) 854 (12) 0.89 10 544 1275L (230) 1056 (11) 0.87
Box and Whisker Plot of the Lexile Linking Test Lexile Measures by Grade (N = 6,731)
Compare Linking Sample to State Compare the Linking Test Grades 3-8 and 10 sample with the State Demographic characteristics MCA II/GRAD scores Means virtually the same
Scatter plot of the MCA II Reading Scale Scores and the Lexile Linking Test Lexile Measures for the Grade 3 final sample (N = 1,155)
Scatter plot of the MCA II Reading Scale Scores and the Lexile Linking Test Lexile Measures for the Grade 4 final sample (N = 1,127)
Scatter plot of the MCA II Reading Scale Scores and the Lexile Linking Test Lexile Measures for the Grade 10 final sample (N = 691)
Scatter plot of the GRAD Reading Scale Scores and the Lexile Linking Test Lexile Measures for the Grade 10 final sample (N = 691)
Next Steps Factor analysis to determine the comparability of constructs as measured by both assessments Finalize link of Lexile Measures with the Grades 3-8 and Grade 10 scale scores (MCA II and GRAD)
Next Steps Verify the resulting Lexile Measures across grades using the Progress Score (Grades 3-8) Verify the resulting Lexile Measures across assessment programs (Grades 3-8 and 10) Verify the resulting Lexile Measures across assessments (NWEA MAP Test)
The Lexile Framework for Reading Using the Results
Lexile resources for matching text and reader Find A Book Available free at www.lexile.com/findabook Contains English and Spanish titles Reading within the Lexile Range provides challenge without frustration 50 Lexiles above Lexile measure 100 Lexiles below Lexile measure Adding student interests to Lexile Range and students are likely to read more.
Find A Book Can refine search Interest Category Keyword Search Book Type fiction, nonfiction, award winners, series Lexile Code Page Count Language English, Spanish, Bilingual
Building Reading Ability A reader strengthens his/her ability by reading matched text text that is within his/her Lexile range. As a reader s ability increases, comprehension and the text level he or she can comprehend increases. While tests help us estimate reading ability, the best measure of a reader s ability is the level of text he/she can read and comprehend. Practice reading skills with text a student can comprehend.
Using Lexiles in the Classroom Teachers can use the Lexile measure to: Develop individualized or classroom reading lists tailored to different measures to provide appropriately challenging reading. Enhance thematic teaching by building a bank of titles at varying levels that support the theme, but also allow all students to participate successfully in the theme with material at their own reading level. Sequence materials by increasing the difficulty of read-aloud books throughout the year.
Using Lexiles in the Classroom Teachers can use the Lexile measure to: Develop a reading folder that goes home with students and comes back for weekly review. Folder might contain: a reading list of books within the student s Lexile range reports of recent assessments a form for parents to record reading that occurs at home. Vary reading difficulty of material to the situation: Choose texts lower in the student s Lexile range when factors make the reading situation more challenging, threatening or unfamiliar. Select texts at or above the student s range to stimulate growth when a topic is of extreme interest to a student, or when you will be giving additional support such as background teaching or discussion.
Lexiles and Differentiation Supplement teaching materials to reach more students at their Lexile level Develop tiered book lists: Use the Lexile Book Database, your school/community library, and online resources to find relevant books at varied Lexile levels Develop tiered resource lists: Use online resources and the Lexile Analyzer to find supplementary materials to address topics or themes in your classroom
Lexiles And Differentiation Increasing Learning How can I increase learning/growth for all students? Matched text: Use Lexile matching to engage students with accessible text and increase success. Scaffolding: Provide additional support for students not ready for grade-level text demands. Accessible instructions: Use the Lexile Analyzer to check the reading level of teacher-developed materials. Tiered assignments/homework differentiated by readiness: Use the Lexile Book Database, EBSCO, etc.
Lexiles And Differentiation Measuring and Celebrating Growth Assessment: How can I measure improvement in students reading levels? Use classroom-level assessments (e.g., PASeries, SRI) - along with state/district tests - to measure Lexile growth over time. Charting Progress: How can I represent and communicate improvement? Develop a classroom Lexile Reading Growth Chart or Lexile Map to communicate where students are and how they are progressing. Empowerment: How can I involve students and families as partners? Use Lexile.com resources to empower students/families.
Subscription Web Resources NetTrekker Alexandria Ebsco Follet Grolier Online Net Trekker NewsBank Proquest Questia Sagebrush Thomson-Gale
Using Lexiles in the Media Center Media Specialists/Librarians can use the Lexile measure to: Label books with Lexile measures to help students find interesting books at their reading level. Analyze book collections to more fully meet the needs of all students. Use the Lexiles Book Database to support book selection and create booklists within a student's Lexile range to help educators guide student reading selections.
Using Lexiles in the Home Parents and older students can use the Lexile measure to: Locate additional reading materials within a child s reading range to help ensure enjoyable reading experiences. Celebrate a child s reading accomplishments. The Lexile Framework provides an easy way for parents and readers to track and monitor growth. Communicate with a child s teachers and other educators.
Benefits of the Lexile Framework Make test scores actionable by matching readers with text Differentiate instruction across the curriculum Provide more information from current assessments, not more testing Measure student growth in reading on a common scale