assessing reading performance

Assessing Reading Performance

Chapter Six

Tuesday, November 13, 12

Exclusion Brainstormformal

segmentationinformal

assessmentmastery

invented spellingmiscue analysisrunning record

portfolioscope and sequence

authenticperformance

Talk with a partner...

which words don’t belong???


AssessmentWhat do you know about assessment?Look at the headline at your table and brainstorm what you think you know about it. This activity is called “vocabulary predictor” for pre-reading.


Trends in AssessmentThe public wants to know that their taxpayer dollars are hard at work! Are students prepared to enter the work force or college upon graduation? High stakes testing is their answer! Educators want better, authentic assessment practices that drive instruction and match instructional goalsThis becomes ...

what we do TO students vs. what we do WITH students


High Stakes TestingAKA proficiency tests, achievement tests, graduation tests, summative assessment, formal assessmentSparked by NCLB ActProvides the public with a guarantee that students can perform at a level necessary to function in society and the workforceProblems with High Stakes Testing

1. Based on single test score - all learners vary on considerably2. Assessments should improve instruction and benefit students -

not take away3. ELL students are at a disadvantage in most standardized

assessments4. Eliminates the opportunity to track progress of individuals5. Intrudes into classroom life!!!!!


Authentic AssessmentTeacher designed assessments which focus on students performing authentic reading and writing tasks to document growthStudents often understand the assessment process and learn to independently self-assess using the same criteria!!!These assessments DRIVE instruction!!! AKA performance-based assessment, formative assessmentFrom authentic assessments, teachers can communicate achievement levels and growthCan be both formal and informal assessments


Let’s try a sort!At your table, open the bag containing types of assessments. Read all the assessment typesSort the assessments into two categoriesAdd a headline to each categoryWe’ll check our answers together!

Check your answers

here!


Check Your Work!Formal Informal

norm-referenced tests reading conferences

criterion-referenced tests miscue analysis

standardized reading test running records

diagnostic test informal reading inventory

retelling

teacher observation


Formal AssessmentsStandardized reading tests are norm-referenced tests meaning it is given to large numbers of children to develop “norms”. These norms represent average scores based on age, gender, race, grade, ses so comparisons can be made of individuals or groups (bell curve)Problems arise on the reliability and validity of the scores!Scores are given in percentiles or stanines.Diagnostic tests give detailed information about an individual’s strengths and weakness in specific areas.Criterion-referenced tests measure performance against a “criterion” on what they can individually do in regard to specific skills. They try to identify strengths and weaknesses


Informal AssessmentsGive teachers information about student performance that can be used to guide instruction

Given throughout the year to individuals or groups for specific instructional purposes

Similar to criterion-referenced tests, because they measure success on specific tasks

Great for assessing reading performance, phonemic awareness, writing, and comprehension skills


Informal Reading InventoryAKA the IRIIndividually administered assessment of readingIt contains a series of graded (leveled) word lists, graded reading passages, and comprehension questions.It assesses how students understand print orally and silently.An IRI can be commercially published or developed by a teacher or school. See the formal IRI that is being passed around!

Watch this clip of an IRI being

administered


http://video2.cdn.schooltube.com/v/db/93/f5/a3/50/15/db93f5a3-5015-f86b-020d-bd8a2bb5beb7.mp4?e=1320352117&h=f6c6fd59f87e19f9c9d1c2bca4b5df4f&fs=0






Running RecordsDeveloped in 1985 by Marie ClayHelps teachers know what goes on in a reader’s mind while reading by examining the relationship between miscues made and comprehension.Gives the teacher knowledge about oral reading fluency and word identification skills and strategies.After giving a running record, a teacher calculates correct words and analyzes miscues for instructional reasonsCheck out this video of a running recordLet’s try it out in partners!

Reading Levels By Running Record

Independent 95-100% Instructional 90-94% Frustration Below 90%

See this app

Let’s try a running record


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CkaLfXAlQeo&NR=1

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CkaLfXAlQeo&NR=1

http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/rr/id406115083?mt=8




http://www.readinga-z.com/projectable/book.php?id=856&page=1






Portfolio AssessmentRead handout to learn about portfoliosPortfolios are a collection that documents the literary development of a student through learning stages.Digital portfolios are portfolios stored in digital format.Portfolios are collaborative between teachers and students and should represent a process.Students need to have a reflection part of every piece in their portfolio.

See handout for ideas of what to include in a portfolio


Teacher ObservationObserving your students is an on-going, purposeful activity, which requires organization, planning, and documentation.Always plan what you will be watching for in advance! You may see something else in the process, but planning ahead guides your observation with purpose!Document what you see... anecdotal notes, checklists, interviews, conferencesDevise a recording system...charts, sticky notes, notepad computers or smart phones, notebooks - Find what works for YOU!


What Next???Why is assessment so important to teachers?What forms of assessment do you see yourself using?What forms of assessment seem scary to you?Think back to the “trends in assessment” from the beginning of our discussion - which side of the seesaw are you on? Why?


assessing reading performance

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