Do Lexile Levels Matter?

What are Lexile Levels? Do they matter? How do they pose problems for adolescent students and secondary teachers? How does early literacy leveling impact older students?

What Lexile Levels Are

Lexile levels is a term trademarked by Metametrics. Metametrics argues that they are able to level books and readers using a scientific approach that provides each with a lexile score or level. When students are assigned to a level, they should select texts that are 100 lexile levels below their level and/or 50 levels above. Lexile levels are intended to help parents and teachers match students with texts they can read on their independent level.

Are Lexile Levels Important?

Lexile levels are contested. The rigid approach to matching students exclusively with texts in their Lexile level is controversial.

Students get assigned a lexile level very early on in school. Students who have low lexile levels often interpret this to mean that they simply are not capable of being strong readers. By the time they enter middle school they may believe reading is something they will never be good at.

When you see difficulties and resistance towards reading, this is likely where it’s coming from. Students who have been told they cannot read complex texts will find it difficult to take the risks and put in the hard work to do so.

What Can You Do?

As a middle/high school teacher, start by understanding that students are used to being labeled and sorted as readers. This practice has likely been harmful for those who have regular reading difficulties.

Talk to students about their experiences with reading. Let them know they can improve as readers and that you are there to work with them!

Have students set goals for themselves as readers and provide instruction that can help them achieve it. This will put them in charge of their reading development and help them make the changes they need to improve as readers.

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