What Makes an Assessment Diagnostic?
These are deep assessments that ask additional questions to find out how the teacher should improve instruction for a student or students...
0 Comments Posted Tuesday, July 01, 2008
What is the Difference between Criterion-Referenced and Norm-Referenced Testing?
These terms relate to how the results of an assessment are presented...
0 Comments Posted Tuesday, July 01, 2008
What is a Benchmark Assessment?
This term refers to a gauge of advancement, such as pre-testing at the beginning of a class/school yera and post-testing at the end. Or it can be one-time testing that provides comparison to state standards thus showing a "benchmark" of student abilities.
0 Comments Posted Tuesday, July 01, 2008
What is an Accountability or High Stakes Assessment?
These look to tell school administrators whether something is working or not. Is the school improving year after year? Is the a CD-ROM that they bought working? These assessments hold a person or program accountable for success.
0 Comments Posted Tuesday, July 01, 2008
What is RtI?
RtI is the model of intervention that a school district follows when responding to students who are below grade level in their core reading and math abilities.
0 Comments Posted Tuesday, July 01, 2008
Why might DORA spelling scores not reflect classroom spelling test achievement?
Spelling is the most challenging sub-test on DORA as the answers are completely student generated as opposed to multiple-choice. If students are performing well on classroom spelling tests, consider the difference in the task.
0 Comments Posted Thursday, November 15, 2007
My kindergartener can read Charlotte’s Web. Will DORA tell me her true reading level?
It's astounding that your daughter seems so advanced in reading for her age. If you know your daughter can comfortably read Charlotte's Web orally (i.e., generally misses less than 5-10 words on a page - varies depending on difficulty of the page), then you know that your daughter is able to decode a book with a reading level approximately between grades 4 to 6 (give or take a grade level depending on who you talk to). However, reading ability, whether it's measured by 'grade level' or some scaled score on standardized tests, is complicated...
2 Comments Posted Friday, August 24, 2007
After having a student tested, do you have a program to improve their reading skills?
Yes, we do offer an instructional program for students with the particular weaknesses identified by DORA. The instructional suggestions are included as part of the assessment report.
0 Comments Posted Wednesday, July 25, 2007
Is there an assessment for children of different ages and abilities?
Hi Let's Go Learn, I really need some help. We are homeschooling two of our 3 sons. One of our sons is very bright and benefits from a lot of structure and ongoing challenges. I realized that his time needs were distracting me from important help that the other two boys needed. The other two have significant reading delays. They are about in grades 3 and 5 (ages 9 and 11). We are a reading family, treasure good books and do a lot of reading aloud. But so far neither of these two are capable of reading on their own. I own about all the phonics programs out there, and we have daily lessons in phonics and reading, taking it by small steps. I have tried to take a wait and let them mature approach, but now I'm getting concerned, especially for the 5th grader. I'm looking for some direction. I probably should get them tested to determine the specifics of their skills. Thanks.
0 Comments Posted Wednesday, July 25, 2007
Where can I find reading help for both high school students and adults?
My 15 year old is in 9th grade and reads on a 6th grade level also my dad who is 53 reads on a 5th to 6th grade level. I need something to help my child read better and actually get interested in reading and I also need something to help my dad read better and comprehend better so that he can get his GED. I have no idea where to look or where to get started. Could you please give me some ideas or advise on what I need to do to get both of them help. Please remember funds are low so we will be trying to do this at home. Thank you.
0 Comments Posted Wednesday, July 25, 2007
Looking for help homeschooling an autistic student?
Dear Let's Go Learn: I am new @ Homeschooling. My son is 6. 1st grader. Autistic - Pervasive Developmental Disorder Not Otherwise Specified (PDDNOS). Speech Impaired. The schools refer to him as High Functioning. Academically he is a bit ahead of his peers in this Special Education class.
0 Comments Posted Wednesday, July 25, 2007
What tools can I use to teach an adult to read?
Hello Let's Go Learn, I would like to see if you could help direct me. I am going to teach a 23-year-old young man to read. I will need tools to help teach him the basics and I don't know where to start. I found "Hooked on Phonics" on the internet, but the cost was $300.00! Do you have any suggestions about other tools I may use to help? Thank you.
0 Comments Posted Wednesday, July 25, 2007