The vocab section is words in a phrase and the kids pick out the definition. The comprehension has passages and comprehension questions. Many are "right there" or "think and search" questions, but there are some inferential questions. I've used it for about 5-6 years now and it seems pretty accurate. It corresponds pretty closely with what I see in the classroom and the level of books where each is comfortable. If a student's vocab is weak, it really shows up. Some ESL students show a little weaker in comprehension because of the vocab. It's quick, whole class, and fairly accurate when used in conjunction with other assessments.
Although it does not give me the info an informal reading survey might, it lets me know which kids I need to scaffold and watch more closely. The LA portion of our state test is 2 days with a good deal of writing. I question its accuracy in predicting classroom success because it just wears some kids out. I need to build up the endurance and perserverance of my little 6th graders!:) Karen Onyx Carusi Middle School -----Original Message----- From: Heather Poland <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> To: A list for improving literacy with focus on middle grades. <[email protected]> Sent: Sat, 30 Aug 2008 7:30 pm Subject: Re: [LIT] data records for kids reading How is the Gates assessment? My district just switched to it, but I haven't een it yet. How are the comprehension questions? Do they read passages or onger text? What are the vocab questions like? Do you think it accurately ssesses your students? Does it give you info you can really use? On Sat, Aug 30, 2008 at 1:29 PM, <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: > We use a Gates MacGinite?on the kids 3x a year to monitor reading levels.? There are 2 parts- 20 min. vocab. and 35 min. comprehension.? It can be given whole class and it gives a grade level for each section and a combined score.? We also use our state scores, the NJASK, once they come in. This gives us general regions of focus.? I usually have around 100 kids, so getting?a running record on each of them is a little difficult.? I focus the deeper testing on anyone in the "bubble region" or close to not meeting standard. I also keep a spread sheet with this information plus track their independent reading for the year. Karen Onyx Carusi Middle School -----Original Message----- From: Debbie Parker <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> To: Literacy List Serve <[email protected]> Sent: Sat, 30 Aug 2008 8:26 am Subject: [LIT] data records for kids reading We are implementing a lot of RTI this year in our school and need to collect?more data about how kids read.? Do any of you have records or evaluations that you use that could help?? Thanks, Debbie Parker 203-470-7705 [EMAIL PROTECTED] ? _______________________________________________ The Literacy Workshop ListServ http://www.literacyworkshop.org To unsubscribe or modify=2 0your membership please go to http://literacyworkshop.org/mailman/options/lit_literacyworkshop.org. Search the LIT archives at http://snipurl.com/LITArchive _______________________________________________ The Literacy Workshop ListServ http://www.literacyworkshop.org To unsubscribe or modify your membership please go to http://literacyworkshop.org/mailman/options/lit_literacyworkshop.org. Search the LIT archives at http://snipurl.com/LITArchive -- Heather "DIBELS is the worst thing to happen to the teaching of reading since the evelopment of flash cards." - P. David Pearson" "When our children fail competency tests the schools lose unding. When our missiles fail tests, we increase unding. " Dennis Kucinich, Democratic Presidential Candidate ______________________________________________ he Literacy Workshop ListServ http://www.literacyworkshop.org To unsubscribe or modify your membership please go to http://literacyworkshop.org/mailman/options/lit_literacyworkshop.org. Search the LIT archives at http://snipurl.com/LITArchive _______________________________________________ The Literacy Workshop ListServ http://www.literacyworkshop.org To unsubscribe or modify your membership please go to http://literacyworkshop.org/mailman/options/lit_literacyworkshop.org. Search the LIT archives at http://snipurl.com/LITArchive
