At the start of each school year teachers begin by assessing student reading levels. At Roberts, we use the Developmental Reading Assessment or Fountas and Pinnell reading assessment. These are oportunities for teachers to listen to individual students read and discuss reading with their teacher in order to determine their level of understanding. Teachers use this information to set reading goals with students, group readers together for small group instruction and to monitor progress. Changes in reading levels/skills often occur over the summer, depending on how much students have read. The beginning of the year assessment gives us an opportunity to determine current reading skills and levels in order to plan instruction.
As required by the State of Texas, students in grades Kindergarten, 1st and 2nd Grades, need to be assessed in all aspects of reading development. School districts can use the Texas Primary Reading Inventory (TPRI) or istation. The Houston Independent School District assesses all Elementary School students using istation. This is an on-line assessment that students take on the computer. We will be starting the Beginning of the Year (BOY) istation assessment next week during Academic Skills Lab. Parents will receive a letter in the Tuesday folder regarding their child's performance by the end of September. This assessment is completed for all students at the beginning of the year, middle of the year and end of the year.
For more information on these assessments and Student goal setting, see the earlier posts on this Blog.
I will be continuing with a deeper look at Reading levels as the beginning of the school year progresses.
