I am going to add that in previous editions, the children were essentially pushed off a cliff when their reading ability exceeded the primary kit and were quite suddenly faced with a great deal of writing. In this new version, I found there to be a gradual release of support as children moved up through levels after 28 (more of a structure at first--sort of an outline). Also, I like the changes in rubric scoring with primary kids (I did not use the previous kit for 4-8) because it measures more aspects of comprehension and the scoring guide provides more support for determining scores for both oral and written responses. In addition, we examined the books--page by page--and found some significant changes in language that match oral language patterns more closely.
Lori On Fri, 29 Jun 2007 19:34 , Liz Tanner <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> sent: >The DRA2 includes Nonfiction texts at benchmark levels. So starting at >level 16 the students must be able to read and comprehend a nonfiction >text. Another aspect of the DRA2 that I really like is that in order to go >on to the next level, the student doesn't just give an oral retelling. >There are certain comprehension components that they must be able to >understand. Also, starting at level 28, the student's responses are all in >a written format. The idea behind this is that, if they can read at that >level, their writing must also be on the same level. The final aspect of >the DRA2 that I am in love with is that there are multiple titles for the >student to choose from. If, as teachers, we are going to assess our >students as readers, then we need to give them the opportunities they would >have as a reader in a real life situation. A good reader chooses his or her >book, he or she is not given a book and told to "read the book from the >beginning to end and then come back and tell everything that happened." The >student will be able to select a book and later on they may be asked why >they chose that particular book. This is probably one of the only times >that we as teachers will be allowed to teach to the test. Everything we are >expected to do as reading and writing teachers will be assessed using the >DRA2. > >Lisanne, I hope this gives you some insight to my new found love for the >DRA2. > >Liz T >Sugar Land, TX >2nd grade > > >On 6/29/07, Rabundles [EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: >> >> Liz, what is it about the DRA2 that makes you think this? I haven't seen 2 >> and was curious. What's better about it than the original DRA? >> ~Lisanne/NY/6 >> >> >> On 6/29/07, Liz Tanner [EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: >> > >> > Our district has been using DRA for quite some time now and this year we >> > will start using the DRA2. After my initial training for the DRA2, I >> was >> > a >> > bit overwhelmed. Now having looked over all of the materials and really >> > studied them, I can't wait to use it in my classroom. It will probably >> be >> > the most useful assessment tool I have ever used to help guide my >> > instruction. >> > >> > >> > >> > >> _______________________________________________ >> 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. >> >> >_______________________________________________ >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. > _______________________________________________ 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.
