Lexile levels for 1st grade

What to Know About Your Child's Reading Level

You might have seen it printed on the back of a book, inside a publisher’s catalog, or on a child’s progress report: a series of numbers and letters called a Lexile. What are these codes, and how do they apply to your learner? Let’s demystify the Lexile system and learn how Lexile measures serve as a valuable tool to support your child’s reading growth.

The Lexile Framework for Reading is a system used to match students with texts (books, articles, and other reading material), regardless of grade level. It takes a scientific approach to measuring reading level. Its numeric measures can apply to both reader and text:

• Lexile text measures reflect the readability of an individual book based on analysis of word frequency, sentence length, and text complexity.
• Lexile reading measures reflect a child’s ability to read texts in a certain range of difficulty.

When you know your child’s Lexile measure, you are better able to select books that will be “just right” for them: not too easy, not too tricky. This way, you can avoid picking inaccessible books that will leave them feeling discouraged, or too-simple books that will leave them bored and looking for something else to read!

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What does the number in a Lexile measure mean?

Understanding a book’s Lexile measure code, which usually consists of a number followed by the letter L, is fairly intuitive: lower numbers mean that the material is simpler and easier-to-read, while higher numbers denote more complex and difficult texts. For example, Green Eggs and Ham has a Lexile measure of 210L, but The Great Gatsby clocks in at 1070L.

However, you can’t go on Lexile measures alone. The Grapes of Wrath, often taught in high school, has a Lexile measure of 680L, while Charlotte’s Web, an elementary school staple, has the same Lexile measure. Both books feature a simple, clear writing style, but The Grapes of Wrath contains advanced concepts and themes more appropriate for older readers.

When applied to your child, Lexile measures work the same way: a lower number means they should be reading books with less text complexity, and a higher number signals that they need something more challenging.

An exception is BR, or Beginning Reader, Lexile measures—higher numbers are assigned to simpler books and earlier readers, while lower numbers represent trickier books and more advanced readers as they approach 0L. A book rated BR300L will be easier to read than one rated BR100L.

What do the letters in a Lexile measure mean?

In addition to Beginning Reader Lexile measures (BR), there are several letter codes you might encounter at the beginning of a Lexile measure:

• AD: Adult Directed. These books are meant to be read aloud to children.
• NC: Non-Conforming. These books contain content appropriate for advanced readers who are still on the young side.
• HL: High-Low. These books are engaging for older students who need less complex texts.
• IG: Illustrated Guide. These are nonfiction reference texts.
• GN: Graphic Novel. These are comic books and graphic novels. If your child loves comics more than anything else, you can still find ones that will provide an appropriate reading challenge!
• NP: Non-Prose. These are songs, plays, poems, and anything else besides a traditional prose book.

What is the scale of Lexile measures?

Lexile reader measures and Lexile text measures help narrow down reading ability and text complexity to match readers with appropriate books at all grade levels.

There is no “correct” Lexile scale or range for your learner’s age or grade. However, according to an analysis published by the Lexile Framework for Reading, the correspondence of Lexile student measures to grade levels, based on the 50th-90th percentile range and measured at the end of the school year, are as follows:

• Kindergarten: BR160L - 150L
• 1st Grade: 165L - 570L
• 2nd Grade: 425L - 795L
• 3rd Grade: 645L - 985L
• 4th Grade: 850L - 1160L
• 5th Grade: 950L - 1260L
• 6th Grade: 1030L - 1340L
• 7th Grade: 1095L - 1410L
• 8th Grade: 1155L - 1470L
• 9th Grade: 1205L - 1520L
• 10th Grade: 1250L - 1570L
• 11th Grade: 1295L - 1610L
• 12th Grade:  1295L - 1610L

Remember that although these numbers represent typical Lexile measures at different grade levels, Lexile measures vary more broadly within each grade. If your young learner’s Lexile measure is far above or below the typical range, you can seek reading materials with Non-Conforming or High-Low Lexile measures that will be enjoyable as well as appropriate for their reading ability.

How to assess your learner’s Lexile level

Lexile levels are assessed in school through classroom assessments and standardized tests. Ask your child’s teacher if they have assessed Lexile measures, and if so, if they are able to share this information with you, as school’s policies regarding assessment data vary. Keep in mind that although some schools assess Lexile measures, others use different assessments to determine a child’s reading level, and may not have Lexile measure data to share.

If you are able to view your child’s Lexile measure, it is important not to refer to this assessment result as a Lexile score; it is not intended to measure achievement, and treating it like a “test” can cause undue anxiety for kids and parents alike.

How to use lexile levels to help select appropriate reading material

If you have determined your child’s Lexile measure, it’s now time to help them find books they’ll love! Some books have Lexile measures printed on the jacket; Lexile measures for other books can be found on publisher websites and other online databases.

A recommended Lexile text range is 100L below to 50L above your young learner’s Lexile reading measure. Once you have determined an appropriate range, search for books with topics, content, and themes that interest your child.

An easy way to do this is to use an online database and filter search results for the Lexile range you have determined. You’ll find that there are books available at every Lexile level that will capture your child’s interest and imagination!

Feel free to involve your learner in the process. Remember to discuss their Lexile measures in a neutral tone and treat the numbers like those in a matching game; you want your child to be able to express their reading preferences without feeling pressure to pick something “higher. ”

Following these guidelines will allow you to choose “just right” books that pose a healthy challenge to your child, but are within or not too far outside of their comfort zone. That way, kids are freed up from unnecessary difficulties and are better able to focus on reading comprehension, learning, and enjoyment.

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What is the Lexile Level for 1st Grade Students?

Establishing Lexile levels for children in the 1st grade provides the perfect platform for the years to come. The earlier a child can learn their Lexile level, the earlier they can begin their quest for the journey of literacy improvement.

The first few years of school offer the largest scope for growth when it comes to Lexile scores, and typically a student of this age will achieve a score of up to 300L.

Introducing the Lexile system at a young age can assist educators and tutors in determining any reading problems, and as such, allow for appropriate research-based strategies and activities to help them overcome any hurdles.

As with pre-school grades, teachers should be looking to instill good reading habits into children and encourage reading on a daily basis. This is crucial in allowing children to reach their maximum growth potential and will set the tone for future grades.

Studies using a national sample of students have provided data on what the typical student in each grade can achieve using Lexile, and in a normal classroom, you will find around 50 percent of students who achieve the base average, 25 percent will perform at a higher level, and then 25 percent at a lower level.

Using the Lexile system with the right reading platform will be beneficial to children in all of these categories, and the ability to personalize their reading material will make a major difference. Students tend to read much more often when the book is about topics they are interested in.

Books with a text difficulty of between 190L and 530L would be appropriate for children in the first grade based on their reading skills, and once accurate Lexile scores are determined, educators can suggest books that will provide a decent challenge in that range.

It is important not to force students into reading books that are well over their current level as this is a sure way to lose their interest. Once a young student becomes overly frustrated with the book because of fluency and comprehension issues, they are less likely to come back and try again.

LightSail Education is a comprehensive LexileⓇ and standards-aligned literacy platform and digital e-book library that can offer students access to thousands and thousands of books. LightSail holistically assesses and nurtures each student on their K-12 literacy journey.

At the core of LightSail’s DNA is the Lexile® framework. Lexile® is a highly respected, world recognized independent metric for measuring students’ reading ability, as well the com- plexity of any given book. Students take a benchmark assessment before starting to read on the platform. The system automatically adapts book recom- mendation every 2 weeks based on Lexile progress monitoring.

ADAPTIVE LEXILE CENTRIC READER

• Every 15 days, LightSail assesses each student’s reading level, expressed in a Lexile® value. Based on this, it automatically adapts the recommended books in the library to the students.
• Continually improving performance, so that they can read books that are within their Zone of Proximal Development.

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what a child should know and be able to do

Most parents closely monitor their child's progress at school, and, of course, they are concerned about whether he succeeds in the school curriculum, including in English. Today our expert will try to answer the question of what results in learning English a child should achieve by the end of the first school year.

Marina Dukhanina - teacher Allright.com

There is a single English program for elementary grades recommended by the Ministry of Education. For example, in Russia, in most general education schools, the study of a foreign language begins in the second grade. Some schools (gymnasiums, or specialized schools with in-depth study of English) introduce this subject from the first year of study.

However, this does not mean that a child will begin to read and write confidently already in the first grade. At this time, the school English program is built on the principle of oral advance . This means that at first the child learns to distinguish English speech by ear and copy it.

During the lessons, children listen to stories, looking at pictures and comics. They repeat the words after the announcer and the teacher, learn to pronounce them on their own. The main attention is paid to the development of oral speech and vocabulary replenishment.

As for the letters and alphabet , learning them in the first grade is optional , and depends on the particular school or even the teacher. In some schools, letters begin to be taught already from the second quarter, which will greatly facilitate the task for second-graders, when, according to the program, the student will have to master the entire alphabet in just a few lessons. On the other hand, it may not be easy for children to learn the English alphabet in the first grade, as they still need to learn Russian letters and numbers.

dialogues, be able to say hello and goodbye, answer questions about yourself.

- Describe yourself, your family, a friend, an animal, a briefcase, a room according to the model within 5 sentences.

Tip: do not demand from the child a spontaneous story on a given topic, because even in Russian, children, as a rule, find it difficult to talk about something smoothly.

– Distinguish by ear those words and expressions that have been studied during the year.

- Understand the basic content of simple stories based on familiar words based on pictures.

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💁

Hello! Goodbye!

What's your name? – My name is…

How are you? – I'm fine, thank you.

How old are you? – I'm seven.

I'm a boy / girl.

🎨 Colors

It’s yellow / green / blue / red/ orange / pink / black / brown / gray / white / purple.

🔢 Numbers from 1 to 10

👪 Family

This is my family. This is my mum / mother / dad / father / brother / sister.

I have got a (mother).

🕺 Teacher commands and simple phrases

Stand up! Sit down! Open your book! Close your book! Clap your hands! look! Listen! Yes! No! thank you!

🏫 School

I have got a book / pen / pencil / rubber / ruler / bag / pencil case.

This is my (pen).

My (pen) is (blue).

🐶 Animals

I have got a cat / dog / parrot / rabbit / mouse / hamster / tortoise.

This is a monkey / elephant / crocodile / bird / duck.

This is my (cat).

It is (big) and (black).

It has got (a nose).

It can (run).

🔑 Room

I have got a bed / table / chair / TV.

This is my room/house.

My (room) is big /small.

My (chair) is (brown).

🎮 Toys

I have got a ball / doll / plane / car / train / boat / bike / kite / teddy bear / drums / guitar.

This is my (car). It is (red).

💃 Skills

I can run / jump / play / climb / swim / eat / drink / dance / sing.

I can’ t fly.

👐 Body parts

I have got eyes / ears / a nose / a mouth / legs / hands.

🍳 Food

I like apples / bananas / biscuits / bread / juice / milk / eggs / cheese / chocolate / tea.

I don't like ice-cream/pizza / hot dogs.

Every child is different. Therefore, we recommend monitoring progress from the first days of schooling. For some, the program is easier; for others, the pace may seem too fast. In this case, we recommend additional lessons in the game form . Success in learning!

The Elementary level of English is the foundation on which your knowledge of English will rest

In the European Framework of Reference for Languages, the A1 Elementary level has the same letter designation as Beginner. However, it is the Elementary level of English that is considered the survival level. That is, the knowledge gained at this stage is enough to communicate in English at the everyday level. For example, if you are abroad, you can check the direction of travel with local residents, make purchases, book a hotel room, etc.

As a rule, students come to the Elementary level already with a small amount of knowledge gained on the Beginner course, at school or other educational institution. If you have previously studied English, it means that you already have at least some basic knowledge, even if it seems to you that you studied for a long time and do not remember anything. In fact, you have already “get acquainted” with the English language, you know the letters and sounds, you can read, you can introduce yourself and say simple phrases about yourself, your friends, family, home. This is enough to start studying at the Elementary level.

We recommend that you start learning English from the Elementary level if you:

• have studied English a little or for a short time, have received elementary knowledge;
• hardly speak English, although you know elementary grammar and about 300-500 words;
• have a vague idea of ​​English grammar and would like to understand all tenses and constructions;
• have basic knowledge, but do not understand English at all by ear;
• completed the Beginner level in an English course or with a personal tutor.

Material that a person at the Elementary level should know

If you think that your knowledge of English is slightly better than in the categories above, you may already know English at the Elementary level. To verify this, check out the table below. It is considered that you know English at the Elementary level and can move to the Pre-Intermediate level if you have the following knowledge:

Skill	Your knowledge
Grammar (Grammar)	You understand the use of the verb to be (I am a student, It is cold). You know the three simple tenses (Present, Future and Past Simple), present continuous tense (Present Continuous), have an idea of ​​present perfect tense (Present Perfect). Do you understand the difference between sentences in the future tense: I'm going to bake a cake (to be going to construction), I'll bake a cake (Future Simple), I'm baking a cake (Present Continuous to indicate the future actions). You know three forms of irregular verbs (drive-drove-driven). You can ask questions to your interlocutor (Word order in questions). You understand the difference between a cat and the cat (the indefinite and definite articles). You are not surprised that you can say a cookie, but you can not say a toast (toast, toasted piece of bread) (Countable and uncountable nouns). You understand the meaning of lady's dress, James' house (Possessive Case). You know the degrees of comparison of adjectives (big-bigger-the biggest). You understand the difference between that cup, this cup, these cups, those cups (Demonstrative pronouns). You know the object pronouns (me, him, her, us, them) and how to use them. You know some adverbs of frequency (often, usually, always, sometimes) and mode of action (well, quickly, hard). You know the meaning of There is no snow on the ground (There is/are/was/were). You know what the sentences I can read, I can't swim, You should work (Modal verbs can/can't/should) mean. You understand I like reading, I hate shopping (like/love/hate + -ing).
Vocabulary (Vocabulary)	Your vocabulary is between 1000 and 1500 words and phrases. You know commonly used words and phrases in English.
Speaking (Speaking)	You can describe yourself, your family and home in a few simple sentences. You know how to talk about your preferences and hobbies. You can easily describe your working day and weekends. You can share your vacation plans with a friend. You can shop abroad or communicate with hotel staff within the vocabulary you know. You can talk about simple everyday topics. You can answer simple questions on topics that are familiar to you.
Reading (Reading)	You understand adapted literature at your level. You can understand signs and announcements in public places or on the street. You can understand the essence of general news.
Listening (Listening)	You understand audio recordings adapted to your level. You understand what native speakers are saying to you if they speak slowly and use familiar vocabulary.
Letter (Writing)	You can write a simple personal letter to a friend. You can write a short text about yourself, your hobby, family, home. You can fill in simple personal data.

If you are still unsure about which level to study, we recommend checking your knowledge with our English level test.

The Elementary level program includes the study of such topics in the curriculum

How your speaking skills will develop in the Elementary course

In the Elementary course, as in other levels, you will work on four basic skills: Speaking , Listening , Reading , Writing . You will get acquainted with simple grammatical constructions of the English language, replenish your vocabulary with the most necessary words and phrases, and develop the correct pronunciation and intonation.

Your main task at any level is to learn how to speak ( Speaking ). At the Elementary level, you will already be able to take part in a small dialogue, ask questions within the framework of the topics you have studied and understand the answers to them, especially if the interlocutor does not use words you do not know. You will be able to tell a monologue of 5-10 sentences about yourself, your family, hobbies.

At the A1 Elementary level, you will learn listening ( Listening ) certain familiar words and simple phrases that sound rather slow and clear. Simple texts and dialogues are used as listening material, which will be completely clear to you after the second listening.

As for Reading ( Reading ), new texts in English will be present in almost every lesson. Each of these texts is a source of new words and expressions that you will learn at this level. On the Elementary course, the basic vocabulary is studied: you learn the most necessary words and phrases in everyday life. Also at this stage, you will fix the reading rules in memory. You will learn to read correctly "on the machine" all the letter combinations you meet, without checking the dictionary. And you will do this in the process of reading an interesting text.

As for writing ( Writing ), the training will begin with the simplest actions. You will learn how to sign postcards, fill out small questionnaires, where you need to indicate your name, surname, nationality, and so on. By the end of the level, you will be able to write short essays and personal letters.

At the level of English Elementary vocabulary ( Vocabulary ) will expand to 1000-1500 words. Level A1 is saturated with the most useful words and phrases that are often used in all typical communication situations (shop, airport, on the street, etc. ). Most of the words at this level are universal and can be used in written and spoken language, regardless of style. However, the amount of material to study will be quite large, because even for simple dialogues we need to know a lot of words. But do not be afraid that you will be forced to learn lists of words by heart. The communicative technique is aimed at mastering the language in the process of communication, so you will memorize new words with the help of dialogues on the topic under study.

Elementary level

The Elementary level depends on the individual characteristics of the student and his initial knowledge. The average duration of study on the Elementary course is 6-9 months. Although this is one of the first levels of language proficiency, it covers extensive material that will allow you to express yourself in the most typical situations of daily communication. At this stage of study, you get the basic knowledge, which is why it is important to lay a solid foundation that will allow you to subsequently achieve high levels of English proficiency.

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