I agree with you, Sally. One test may give you a ballpark reading level, but for what? I think it is important to know approximately where our students are at to guide them correctly when they make independent reading choices. However, that should come from mini-lessons, experiences with the child, etc. not just a test score. It is important to teach children how to choose just-right books, not choose a book that has the right number/letter on the binding. At the beginning of the school year I teach a lesson on choosing just-right books. Our reading specialist demonstrated this a few years ago. You bring in a pair of tennis shoes, heels, and snow boots. I hold up the tennis shoes and tell them I was planning to wear them to my friend's wedding, and was going to wear the snow boots on my trip to Mexico. When they begin to correct me and explain when and where I should wear each pair of shoes, I ask them how choosing the right pair of shoes is like choosing a book? You discuss the purpose for wearing various shoes is the same as choosing various books for different purposes. When we begin to talk about reading books for enjoyment we discuss the features a book should have in order for the experience to be enjoyable--knowing most of the words, understanding the problem, etc. Melissa
________________________________ From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] on behalf of [EMAIL PROTECTED] Sent: Mon 3/10/2008 3:08 PM To: Mosaic: A Reading Comprehension Strategies Email Group Subject: Re: [MOSAIC] STAR I have a question that has been bothering me. How many on this list believe there is any such thing as an "accurate" reading level. It is always iffy in my mind. Depends so much on the schema people bring to a reading and the interest and engagement. And in my experience kids read at different levels depending ont hings like genre. So to act as if there is anything like "accurate" is not possible. So administrators who want "levels" every 6 weels have no understanding of what reading really is - right? Just wondering if others believe as I do. In mymind it is not an objective number EVER (except as a particular score on a particular occasion with a particular text and a particular reader)and certainly thinking there would be meaningful change in 6 weeks on such a score is also crazy. Now I know the number crunchers will believe they are getting numbers worth crunching but.....???? It is not that we can't get a broad general level - a place to start. But it would have to be considered along with information on the reader's experience with different kinds of texts, interests and expertise and so on. But one "level" alone also can't stand for reading across topics and genres anyway. Sally > I agree with you regarding STAR. Using this will only provide a > level, and not a very accurate one at that. > Jill Waldrep Wadkins > Academic Coach > Sanders Intermediate School > 770.819.2568 ext. 223 > _______________________________________________ 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.
