What is "Lexile"?

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A Lexile measure is a valuable piece of information about either a person's reading ability or the difficulty of a text, such as a book or magazine article. The Lexile measure is shown as a number with an "L" after it — 880L is 880 Lexile.
At the Potter’s House we are aware of and make use of a variety of different reading level scales to help us understand how well a student can read and understand text. These scales include Grade Level equivalents, Guided Reading from Fountas and Pinnell, Reading Recovery, Lexile, and occasionally 
others. These scales help us measure student ability and match them with appropriate text for independent reading, guided reading, and for classroom instruction. The Lexile scale is increasingly helpful to us. We are learning to appreciate Lexile leveling because it is an accurate indicator for reading levels from Beginning Readers through the high school and into college and professional-level texts. 

Both of the standardized tests that we use at school, the NWEA Measures of Academic Progress and the Stanford Achievement Tests, give us student Lexile scores to consider. As teachers share these levels 
with students it allows them to choose books and materials that match their ability. 

Independent reading – Many of the books in our school library and in classroom libraries have the book’s Lexile reading level printed right on the book so that as students choose reading material they can look for books in their Lexile range.

Literature circles, book clubs and guided reading – Teachers are using the Lexile framework to help them appropriately group students for a variety of guided reading settings at school.

Goal setting – Especially in upper elementary and middle school grades teachers will use the Lexile levels as they set reading goals with students. At the beginning of the year as they share appropriate reading levels with students they will often determine a Lexile level to work towards over the course of the year.
                           
                                        - Mr. Ponstine
                                          PK-8 Principal

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What is "Fountas-Pinnell"?

​The F&P Text Level Gradient™ is the most recognized and trusted tool for selecting books for small-group reading instruction.