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May 04, 2006

What is New in Assessment?

"The number one goal of any reading program should be to help students become proficient, enthusiastic readers who read for a variety of purposes." Joetta Beaver

If you are a current DRA user, you will appreciate the field tested revisions to the second edition. The DRA2 includes revised assessment texts, new fiction and nonfiction assessment texts, a uniform assessment process across grades K-8, and Word Analysis, an individual diagnostic assessment. In addition to the primary assessment materials, the Second Edition includes a clipboard with a built-in timer and calculator, improved Online Management System, optional digital pen powered by Anoto technology and corresponding Teacher Observation Guides.

Improvements to the DRA2 provide teachers information to focus on how to identify and address specific student needs. The Benchmark Books now include four Level 40 texts from the DRA2 4-8 set. Students should not be assessed beyond one grade level above their present grade. For this reason the fifth grade-level has been omitted from DRA2 K-3. Research documents the relationship between fluency and comprehension. Beginning with Level 14 text, teachers time students' oral reading to determine their oral reading rate. Slow reading indicates gaps in constructing meaning from the passage. State assessments require students to respond in writing to comprehension questions. From Level 28 and above students read the texts independently, then write a one-page summary and short responses to four questions. The additional information provides insight to a students' written communication and understanding of vocabulary and concepts related to comprehension.

Finally, the modified continuum is included for each level text to determine students' strengths and needs. The new Teacher Guide includes a section, "Moving Into Instruction", designed to assist the teacher in planning instruction based on student needs.

Posted by Deia Roberts at 12:15 PM | Comments (0)