Whittier Elementary School

Resource Center

 
   

Assessments

The following is a list of assessments that assist in the creation of  individualized academic programs for each student:

The Developmental Reading Assessment (DRA) provides teachers with a method for assessing and documenting primary students' development as readers over time within a literature-based instructional reading program. The assessments are conducted during one-on-one reading conferences as children read specially selected assessment texts. A set of 20 stories, which increase in difficulty, are used for the assessment. The DRA evaluates two major aspects of reading: accuracy of oral reading and comprehension through reading and retelling of narrative stories. Both aspects of reading are critical to independence as a reader. Questions pertaining to concepts about print are also included in the assessment with lower leveled texts.  These assessments are given by the student's classroom teacher three times per year. 
The Basic Reading Inventory (BRI) is an individually administered informal reading test. It is composed of a series of graded word lists and graded passages intended to help teachers gain insight into students' reading behavior. 

Three different levels are measured by the BRI:

Independent Level: This is the level at which students read fluently and make few (0-1) word recognitionand comprehension errors. Free reading and recreational materials should be at this level.

Instructional Level: At this level, the reader makes some errors (2-3) but comprehension is adequate.This is the level at which the student will benefit most from instruction.

Frustration Level: This is the level at which reading is often slow and halting and the reader makes many errors (4 or more). Materials at this level are too difficult for the reader even with teacher help.

The goal on the BRI is for the student to score at the "Independent Level" by the end of the year on grade level material. Parents can help their child reach this goal by encouraging them to read 10-15 minutes each day at home in books they can read easily.
 

Designed by Krysten Mack

04/11/08