Suzanne I think with this we have another balancing act to perform. If the kids are doing more writing (for accountability purposes than they are reading, then that is a problem. Sometimes writing with a pencil in hand can enhance comprehension and so kid-directed responses to reading can be helpful. Sometimes a brief entry of titles on a log can be a good conferencing tool...you can help guide kids to try different genres or to help them self-reflect on whether or not they are making good choices in their book selections. We use the QRI-4 independent reading inventory, the SRI (Scholastic Reading Inventory) and our state testing (MSA- Maryland State Assessment), along with some district developed benchmarks. I encourage my teachers to be knowledgeable about what test results mean...there are strengths and weaknesses in any test and one needs to know what they are in order to best interpret their scores. Maryland hit 78 degrees Farenheit today but we will be getting in some rain over the weekend. Spring has really sprung...azaleas, cherry trees and my tulips are all in full bloom and the leaves are starting to come on the trees. It is pretty here, but if you have allergies, God help you. My car was absolutely yellow with pollen when I went to work this morning. Jennifer In a message dated 4/25/2008 9:00:32 P.M. Eastern Daylight Time, [EMAIL PROTECTED] writes:
Now, my next question is, 'how important is it for kids to continually log in a book or on some sort of document' what they are reading independently? And, 'tests' do you all give that determines levels, reading comprehension, etc.....? WE are only now Allowd to give the DRA, I used to like the TORCH, (dont' know if any of you have used it) and of course just a few running records to keep track of my kids, but trusted totally my 28 years of teaching 'gut' to know how they were really doing. I know, I'm not allowed to do that anymore.....but what is happening in your schools with testing. Our kids do the ISA (Iternational schools assessment) tests as their standardised test but it is not subject to a great deal of scrutiny as yet, I believe however it will be in the future. Have a lovely weekend everyone, it's just on eight am here, 35 degrees C and Saturday is just looking GREAT. Suzanne **************Need a new ride? Check out the largest site for U.S. used car listings at AOL Autos. (http://autos.aol.com/used?NCID=aolcmp00300000002851) _______________________________________________ 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.
