Informal and Formal Reading Assessment

1. Informal and Formal Reading Assessment Strengths and Weaknesses

2. Why Should Parents Look at Assessments? • Reading Assessments provide feedback. • Goals can be set to improve performance. • Goals can be set to challenge students. • Specific skills can be addressed. • Assessments provide an understanding of your child’s performance. • Formal assessments provide an individual numerical score compared to others within the state and /or nationwide.

3. Reading Assessments Informal Formal • Informal Reading Inventory ( IRI) • Informal Word Inventory ( WRI) • Running Records • Authentic Assessments • Kidwatching • Portfolios http://www.fotosearch.com/photos-images/bubble-test.html • Norm-Referenced Tests • Standardized Tests • Criterion-Referenced Tests • At this time we use FAIR (Florida Assessments for Instruction in Reading). This a computer-based assessment which replaced the previously used assessment DIBEL used for Reading First. http://www.fotosearch.com/photos-images/bubble-test.html

4. Why Informal Assessment ? • Diagnostic assessments such as an informal reading inventory provides a starting point for instruction designed specifically for your child. • Differentiated instruction is based off of your child's strengths and weaknesses according to an array of informal assessments. • Further ongoing informal assessments such as teacher observations will show the big picture.

5. Informal Assessment Weakness • Screening Assessments examine just enough to identify those who need extra help. • Diagnostic tests cover many areas and may be hard to interpret. • You will not receive a “test report comparison to other students at their grade level” (Gillet, Temple & Crawford, 2008. p. 11). • There are numerous informal assessments. • Choosing and administering assessments may be subjective.

6. Informal Assessment Strengths • Screening Assessments show those who need help and are economical. • Diagnostic Assessments show specific needs of students. • Individual Diagnostic Instruments test specific skills. • Informal Reading Inventory, are more comprehensive and test many areas Authentic Assessments and Kidwatching show the big picture.

7. Why Formal Assessments ? • Standards-Bases Tests are required by the federal No Child Left Behind law ( FAIR) • Standardized tests such as Florida’s Comprehensive Assessment Test ( FCAT) shows growth of a whole grade level and school. • Outcomes-Based Assessments hold teachers and schools accountable for standards based learning. • “Standards-based tests are meant to assess each student’s performance on the standards set by the state” (Gillet, Temple & Crawford, 2008. Page 12).

8. FAIR There are four types of assessments in FAIR for k-2: • The Broad Screen/Progress Monitoring Tool given to all students in 3-5 min. • The Broad Diagnostic Inventory, which includes comprehension and vocabulary tasks • The Targeted Diagnostic Inventory • Ongoing Progress Monitoring Broad Screen/Progress Monitoring

9. Formal Assessment Weakness “Formal reading tests do not reflect the reading process” (Gillet, Temple & Crawford, 2008. Page 146). Formal reading tests do not always provide students with • Prior knowledge • Interests • Motivation • Purpose for reading a passage • Strategies to construct meaning

10. Formal Assessment Weakness • Reading is not assessed in an authentic way. • Reading selections are short passages and comprehension is assessed by multiple choice questions. • Reading is timed • Formal reading tests do not match goals of instruction • Students are asked to recognize information not produce information.

11. Formal Assessment Strengths • Formal tests show mastery over certain information and operations. • They show numerical results that are easy to interpret and compare. • Formal testing are administered as a group and by a team. • All students receive the same instructions, examples, time limits. • Numerical scores are not subjective. • Formal tests are reliable and valid.

12. Assessments Working Together

13. What Can I Do To Help My Child? What can I do to help my child ? • Conference with your child’s teacher. • Ask about assessments both informal and formal tests. • Work with your child on specific skills needed. • Be involved with your child’s education. • Children need to know you care and they also depend on you to build self-confidence, responsibility, and good study habits. • Children learn through modeling and you are their first teacher.

14. What Can I Do To Help My Child? Review • Students are tested using both formal and informal assessments. • Both types of assessments have strengths and weaknesses. • There are pros and cons to both assessments. • Data provides a guide as to what your child needs to work on.

15. References Fotosearch. (2012). Bubble test stock photos and images. Retrieved fromhttp://www.fotosearch.com/photos- images/bubble-test.html. Gillet, J. Temple, C. & Crawford, A. ( 2008). Understanding reading problems: Assessment and instruction. Boston, MA: Allyn Bacon by PearonsInc.