Assessment Materials

Our first word of advice is that you become a more knowledgeable consumer of information about schooling in this new era. Most people learn about schools from the media, from friends and relatives, and from occasional school visits. None of these sources is especially trustworthy at present; they overwhelm but do not enlighten.

Education is an inherently political enterprise. In an earlier era, politics were more local than in today's world. This includes the politics of the local school, now overrun by district, state, and federal mandates and regulations. Schooling looks quite different when parents are asked about their local school and when citizens are asked about schools in general. How can we make sense of what the media say about schools?

The most accessible sources of information about education come from standardized tests. State bureaucrats convene press conferences when the yearly findings are finally calculated, and the media come when called. While standardized tests have limitations, they do correlate with other, more trustworthy indicators; they mean something and should not be dismissed out of hand. Here are four criteria you should apply to reports of standardized-test results; the "it" in all but the third instance is whatever the test measures: Does it matter? Does it last? Who took it? Was it taught?
( Adapted from Teach Our Children Well (Calfee and Patrick, 1989)

Suggested assessments to accompany the WordWork curriculum are concentrated on a few aspects: speed and ease of administration, link to the curriculum, open-ended system that could be modified or used in parts by teachers, content validity.

Authentic Assessment
Ongoing assessment for word building and articulation easily adaptable by the teacher to individual student response.

Tile Test
A quick test of K-1 early literacy that helps teachers think and assess the different constructs. Composed of individual modules of reading components that accurately measure: letter knowledge, letter-sound correspondence, word reading, metaphonics, decoding, oral reading of connected text, reading comprehension, vocabulary, oral comprehension. Usable for diagnostic purposes and for linking assessment to practice. High Reliability and Validity. Link to Title Test (PDF)

GRR
This quick measure of reading fluency for grades 1-6 accurately assesses oral reading capability. Multiple forms allow retesting in a short period. Highly reliable test that is sensitive to change and appropriate for measuring intervention effects. Link to GRR (PDF)

IRAS-R
Thorough test that helps teachers think and assess the different constructs of literacy.
Composed of individual modules of reading components that accurately measure: letter knowledge, letter-sound correspondence, word reading, metaphonics, decoding, oral reading of connected text, reading comprehension, vocabulary, oral comprehension. Usable for diagnostic purposes and for linking assessment to practice. High Reliability and Validity. Link to IRAS-R (PDF)