Determing Reading Level

LEXILE LEVELS: obtain a lexile for a particular book go to The Lexile Framework

Understanding Lexiles

\Lexiles are a measure of language. "The Lexile Framework characterizes a reader with a measure (Lexile) and a text with a measure (Lexile.) " Before this wonderful invention of the computer age, books would be labeled with a "readability." There was a formula which included counting words, syllables and sentences in a 100 word passage then determining a grade level such as 3.4 (Third grade, fourth month). Lexiles are calculated by using all of the words in the book, not just the randomly selected 100, and letting the computer do the work. It measures the level of reading ability necessary for a reader to be successful with a particular book.

How does my child get a lexile score?

All Pinellas County elementary students who are beyond beginning readers take a computer test called the SRI, Scholastic Reading Inventory. This inventory allows students to select a subject of interest, then read stories and answer questions about what they've read. The stories get progressively more difficult. The program will keep track of the student's correct answers and continue until the text and the reader fit just right. The score the student receives on this activity is their Lexile.

SUNLINK: Funded by the Florida Department of Education, SUNLINK is Florida's K-12 public school union catalog, a shared database of materials in Florida K-12 library media centers. The primary purpose of SUNLINK is to promote resource sharing among Florida public schools. Schools are able to locate needed resources and borrow them by project-established interlibrary loan procedures.

Determining the Readability of a Book

Greda Vaso

Ever wondered how the reading level of a book is determined or wanted to figure it out yourself? There are a number of methods available for determining just that for any written passage. Well look at several methods: the Gunning Fog Index, the Flesch Formula and the Powers Sumner Kearl Formula. In each method you analyze a passage of text for word and sentence patterns calculating a score and then comparing it to an index. Each index should be seen as a rule of thumb, not an absolute. Highly jargon filled technical writing may have a lower score but still be difficult to read for those not already conversant with the terms used. The indexes also are keyed to grade levels which may not hold true with the constant shifting in what is expected from children at a particular grade level. One schools third grader is another schools fifth grader, with homeschoolers pretty much throwing the whole notion of grade levels out the window. Different indexes or formulas will generate different results for the same text. For example this article was given a grade level of 7.0 using the Gunning Fox Index and a Flesch Reading Ease level of 49 equivalent to college level. Still the indexes can give you some useful information in comparing one book with another.Gunning Fog Index The Fog Index measures readability for upper elementary and secondary ages. Select several samples of 100 words and apply the following steps:

1. Count the number of words in the sample.

2. Count the number of sentences

3. Count the number of big words (3 or more syllables)

4. Calculate the average sentence length. Divide the number of sentences into the number of words.

5. Calculate the percentage of big words. Divide the number of words into the number of big words

6. Add the average sentence length to the percentage of big words

7. Multiply the result by .4. The resulting number is the readability grade level.The Flesch Formula: Reading Ease & Grade Level

The Flesch Formulas work well with upper elementary and secondary texts. Select several samples of 100 words and apply the following steps:

1. Count the number of words in the sample.

2. Count the number of sentences.

3. Divide the number of words by the total number of sentences. Multiply that result by 1.015.

(Number of words ÷ number of sentences)* 1.015 = A

4. Count the total number of syllables. Divide by the total number of words and multiply by 84.6. (Number of syllables ÷ number

of words) * 84.6 = B

5. Add the results from steps 3 and 4. And subtract from 206.835. 206.835 - (A + B)

6. The results of step 5 are the Reading Ease score.Reading Ease Score Difficulty Flesch Grade Level

0_29 Very Difficult Post Graduate

30-49 Difficult College

50-59 Fairly Difficult High School

60-69 Standard 8th to 9th Grade

70-79 Fairly Easy 7th Grade

80-89 Easy 5th to 6th Grade

90-100 Very Easy 4th to 5th GradePowers Sumner Kearl Formula

The Powers Sumner Kearl Formula measures the readability of primary age books for readers ages 7 - 10. Select samples of 100 words.

1. Count the number of words in the sample.

2. Count the number of sentences.

3. Calculate the average sentence length (L). L = number of words ÷ number of sentences

4. Count the number of syllables (N).

5. Calculate grade level (L × 0.0778) + (N × 0.0455) - 2.2029

6. Calculate reading age (L × 0.0778) + (N × 0.0455) + 2.7971 years

Counting words and syllables can be time consuming. Fortunately those who have access to Microsoft Word or Corel WordPerfect have there own readability calculator. Word generates readability statistics using several different methods including Flesch Reading Ease and Flesch-Kincaid Grade Level. To determine readability of any document, first, use the grammar tool to check grammar. After the grammar check is completed the documents readability statistics will be displayed. In Word Perfect select Grammatik from the Tools menu. Select the Options button and then analysis and readability. Word Perfect generates statistics on the Flesch-Kincaid grade level, passive voice, sentence complexity and vocabulary complexity. It also compares the scores of the document you are analyzing with another document. Already available are a Hemingway short story, the Gettysburg Address, and the 1040EZ Tax Instructions. You can use it to check your own or your childrens writing or type a passage from any book to determine its readability.

When analyzing text you will get better results by analyzing longer passages or taking three 100 word passages from different sections of a book. You can also create your own bench mark standards by analyzing books that you know are easy or more difficult for your child to read. Compare new books to your bench marks to determine whether your child will find a book below, at or above his reading level.