{"id":280,"date":"2019-06-13T19:19:46","date_gmt":"2019-06-14T02:19:46","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/spencermeadowpress.com\/?p=280"},"modified":"2019-09-14T19:17:55","modified_gmt":"2019-09-15T02:17:55","slug":"writing-early-readers-part-1-understanding-lexile-levels","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/spencermeadowpress.com\/index.php\/2019\/06\/13\/writing-early-readers-part-1-understanding-lexile-levels\/","title":{"rendered":"Writing Early Readers, Part 1: Understanding Lexile Levels"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

The genre of early readers can be fun and delightful (Dr. Seuss\u2019s Green Eggs and Ham<\/em>) or dull as dry toast (Dick and Jane<\/em>). Maybe the only element these books have in common is the ease with which they can be read. If you want to write early readers (generally grades K-2), it is necessary to understand concepts that factor into making your books easy to read.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

There are a variety of systems used to describe reading levels and publishers have different definitions for their Level 1-4 early readers. One of the most well-known systems, and one that can be used to determine reading level, regardless of what the publisher says, is the Lexile measuring scale. Lexile levels are in increments of 10, starting with BR (beginning reader, below 0L) and going to 2000L. Educators use Lexile levels to help match children with books that are challenging to read, but not so challenging that they will get discouraged. Children may be tested to determine their level and then matched with appropriate books. The best range for a child to read is 50 below to 100 above their current level.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

An online search for \u201cLexile reading level\u201d will lead you to sites where you can input a book title and find out its Lexile level. So you don\u2019t have to do that right now; here is a sampling of books at each level. I have given a general range for comparison purposes, but it\u2019s not exact because books in a given series will vary.<\/p>\n\n\n\n