I have to agree that the DRA2 is a much improved instrument. We find significant differences between spring and fall measures with our students with this and other assessments. "Retention" has always taken the blame for this, but I found some fault with the old measure that allowed teachers to intentionally or unintentionally fall into the level push pit, where the levels became the measure for success. With the revised instrument, I feel there has to be a push, so to speak, to return to Mosaic strategies and more meaningful instruction. I am having a harder time imagining a child truly solid at a level (and the thinking behind it, especially the thinking behind it) doing much backsliding. We are just adopting the new version, so this is conjecture on my part.
Lori On 5/11/07 5:51 AM, "kandrews-babcock" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: > Beth, > Re: DRA assessment > > The DRA is a tool meant to measure the fluency and comprehension growth of a > student within a school year. When the continuum is used purposefully, there > is a multitude of teaching that can happen between the two tests. We are > currently using the DRA 2 and it offers a wealth of information about how to > best teach each child. We are required to give it to students below grade > level each marking period as well. > When you mention "BIG differences between what is done for a 1st grader > compared to a 3rd grader" I'm a bit confused. If you are referring to > teaching strategies or a child moving up through the DRA levels. Please > clarify so I can speak to that. > I think it's important to remember that assessment should be driving your > instruction. So when you give a DRA, you have lots of information to now > decide how to group and instruct your students. I think what happens is that > teachers sometimes get hung up on the actual 'testing' do it and forget to > revisit it to aid them in planning instruction. It's easy to do that > especially when you have a lot of testing going on. > Hope this helps, > Kelly AB > > > > > _______________________________________________ > Mosaic mailing list > [email protected] > To unsubscribe or modify your membership please go to > http://literacyworkshop.org/mailman/options/mosaic_literacyworkshop.org. > > Search the MOSAIC archives at http://snipurl.com/MosaicArchive. > -- Lori Jackson District Literacy Coach & Mentor Todd County School District Box 87 Mission SD 57555 http:www.tcsdk12.org ph. 605.856.2211 Literacies for All Summer Institute "Literate Lives: A Human Right" July 12-15, 2007 Louisville, Kentucky http://www.ncte.org/profdev/conv/wlu _______________________________________________ Mosaic mailing list [email protected] To unsubscribe or modify your membership please go to http://literacyworkshop.org/mailman/options/mosaic_literacyworkshop.org. Search the MOSAIC archives at http://snipurl.com/MosaicArchive.
