I can't remember just who I was to get this information too, as I now have a list of different posts I need to respond to, I need to become more organized. The problem is the time difference for me...keeping up with you all. The problem with the TORCH is that it is Australian, but it's a great quick check tool and I love it for that. But, now we are not allowed to use it, just the DRA.
VELS level 3 TORCH: Tests of Reading Comprehension This section provides an overview of the Tests of Reading Comprehension (TORCH), 2nd edition, ACER Press, 2003. TORCH was first developed by Western Australian Education Department. This revised edition includes some new testing material, a reworked manual and provision of an individual student report form. Purpose The set of twelve graded texts (fiction and non-fiction) is designed to assist teachers of students from Years 3-10 (levels 3 to 6 of the Victorian Essential Learning Standards) in their assessment of students reading comprehension skills. Each test comprises a reading passage and an answer sheet, which resembles a cloze passage. TORCH provides an estimate of a students level of reading achievement, which can be compared to normative data and interpreted according to the descriptions of each level of reading achievement. Classroom application TORCH is designed so that it can be administered to a whole class, to large groups, small groups or individuals. It is suggested that a quiet, independent activity is available for students to go on to, allowing for variation in time that individuals take to finish the test. Time required to administer TORCH is not a timed activity; it takes an individual or group approximately 30-45 minutes to complete. Additional time should be allowed to score, summarise and interpret results. Strengths TORCH is designed for Australian new normative data TORCH allows teachers to match the difficulty of the test with the expected level of achievement of each student teachers can readminister the test using an easier or more difficult reading passage tests are standardised at each year level to allow for continuity of measurement of student progress over time all test items measure different aspects of reading including literal and inferential comprehension and synthesising information presented, to assist teachers build a picture of students developing reading comprehension skills. Limitations the assessment involves students reading silently rather than reading aloud, so does not assess oral reading fluency as a measure of student comprehension scoring and interpretation of the test results may require additional time and training for teachers. Purchasing TORCH materials The TORCH 2nd edition manual contains master sheets which can be photocopied for the Administration Guide, TORCH Report, TORCH Pattern of Response Forms and Described Regions on the TORCH Scale. Answer sheets are now purchased in consumable form. Each student completing TORCH requires an answer sheet. TORCH manual: $89.95 ISBN: 0864316720 Student answer sheets: $12.00 (packs of 10) Reusable test booklets: $8.95 each Please note that all RRPs cited are for information purposes only. See the ACER Shop (http://shop.acer.edu.au/acer-shop/app) for up to date pricing information. -----Original Message----- From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] on behalf of Renee Sent: Wed 4/30/2008 9:18 PM To: Mosaic: A Reading Comprehension Strategies Email Group Subject: Re: [MOSAIC] Less is More Book is appropriate for 5 - 6 grades On Apr 29, 2008, at 8:13 PM, [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: > We spend a few units writing essays in grades 5 and up...literary > essay, > personal essay. It is necessary for kids to read them in order to > write them. I believe this is true of any genre of writing. If you're going to write poetry, you have to read it. A lot of it. If you're going to write a memoir, you've got to read some. Plenty of them. As teachers, we are mandated to teach children how to do things we often don't even do ourselves. Interesting, I think. Renee "Many persons have a wrong idea of what constitutes true happiness. It is not attained through self-gratification but through fidelity to a worthy purpose." ~Helen Keller _______________________________________________ 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.
