I totally agree with you! We used to do the PALS at the beginning & end of year, now we have to do it at mid-year for those not passing in September. I feel very fortunate I'm in 2nd grade, and don't have to deal with our SOL tests (although I'm responsible for teaching the SOLs) in 3rd, 4th AND 5th!! We do have some incredibly stupid benchmark tests (12 questions in reading and 12 in math every 9 weeks--SO helpful in my quest for good instruction!).
I've been teaching 32 years, and basically, I just do what I feel is right for the kids. I play by the administration's rules, do the benchmarks, and carry on. I don't even look at the results. I tend to use running records to plan instruction for reading, moreso than the PALS. Sigh, from another Dinosaur!! Melissa/VA/2nd On Tue, Sep 7, 2010 at 10:57 PM, Jeanette Hayden <[email protected]>wrote: > Sounds like more testing and less teaching. Guided reading and running > records were a terrific indicator of student need and growth. > Now students are not given enough time to actually read and thus have a > difficult time in becoming "Proficient". > Just a Dinosaur's opinion. > > > On Sep 7, 2010, at 4:36 PM, Melissa Kile wrote: > > We use the PALS (Phonological and Literacy Screening, from UVa) for >> PreK-3, >> Fountas & Pinnell Benchmark assessments, Leveled Literacy Intervention >> Running Records, SOL results (state standards tests). Some teachers use >> STAR >> (don't know what it stands for, but is reading), and the RPI (Reading >> Progress Indicator), which measures various areas of comprehension. >> >> Melissa/VA/2nd >> >> On Tue, Sep 7, 2010 at 4:06 PM, Jeana Wise <[email protected] >> >wrote: >> >> What types of data does your schools collect for anaylsis? My district is >>> using Aimsweb, but I am thinking that other forms of data may be helpful >>> when looking at interventions for our struggling students. My district no >>> longer gives the DRA, either. >>> >>> Jeana Wise >>> K-4 Literacy Coach >>> [email protected]<mailto:[email protected]> >>> >>> _______________________________________________ >>> 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. > > _______________________________________________ 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.
