While I agree with the idea that if misused or misunderstood, assessments can lead educators down the wrong path.
There is a lot of criticism about the timed portions of DIBELS because people misunderstand what data implies. The concrete number that the assessment provides is a solid piece of evidence regarding the amount of time it takes a student to read. Reading rate can have huge ramifications on students ability to complete assignments in a timely fashion and can greatly impact motivation. It can also be in important indicator that other factors impacting the student's reading pace. Further assessments maybe necessary to determine if there is a phonological weakness or a lack of familiarity with the topic, etc. The DIBELS allows us screen a large number of students relatively quickly and to raise the red flag on students who are grossly behind the expectation. I am also a firm believer in Marie Clay's model of 'kid watching'. This is much more difficult and requires a greater level of expertise than the DIBELS. I've know many fine classroom teachers who don't exactly know what to watch for. They are masters at delivering the curriculum, not the acquisition of reading. Any additional ideas for screening/diagnostic tools would be greatly appreciated. Thanks Sandy -----Original Message----- From: Sally Thomas <[email protected]> To: mosaic listserve <[email protected]> Sent: Mon, Oct 10, 2011 12:51 pm Subject: Re: [MOSAIC] title 1 reading - help Eloquently said!!! Sally On 10/10/11 1:28 PM, "Palmer, Jennifer" <[email protected]> wrote: > I highly value teacher observation, especially, Renee, the one-on-one type > that you describe. And certainly screening assessments have been misused in > too many schools to count. In addition there are a lot of assessments that are > just terrible, especially when used to guide teaching. (Like "speeded" tests > for example.) And, finally, many schools are not assessment literate and try > to use summative assessments meant for program evaluation to guide > instruction. This misuse of assessment has made many teachers gun-shy of all > assessments because they see the damage that the misuse causes. > > Assessment has been a major focus of my own professional reading for the past > few years and what I have come to understand is that if it is done well, it is > a tool that makes our work as teachers much easier. Misused, it is probably > better to not use them at all given the damage that can occur. I have seen > teachers teach nonsense words so that their kids could pass DIBELS. That is a > grave misuse which sends the wrong signal about what reading really is!! BUT, > I have also personally seen screening tools draw attention to kids that were > missed by teachers in previous years who did not use the screening tools. It > requires a thorough understanding of what the screening assessment can and > cannot do... and above all it requires assessment literacy. Professional > development is so crucial at ALL LEVELS...(especially administration!!) so > that the tools are understood and not misused. > > Now about teacher observation... Speaking only for myself here, I found, > however, that even my own experienced observations were contextual and very > situational. Some decent assessments given to those kids in trouble really > helped me gain insights into why I was observing what I was observing. The > more experience I have gained, the more I have learned to verify my > observations and not draw conclusions too hastily. Just another point of > view...I guess I believe there is an art and a science to teaching. The art > just might be in the decisions not only about instruction, but about gathering > information to inform instruction. Teachers and schools are as individual as > students. > > Jennifer L. Palmer > Instructional Facilitator, National Board Certified Teacher (EC Gen) > > Magnolia Elementary School (Home School) > 901 Trimble Road, Joppa, MD 21085 > Phone: (410) 612-1553 > Fax: (410) 612-1576 > In EVERY child...a touch of GREATNESS!!! > Proud of our Title One School! > > Norrisville Elementary School > 5302 Norrisville Rd > White Hall, MD 21161 > Phone: 410-692-7810 > Fax: 410-692-7812 > Where Bright Futures Begin!!! > > ________________________________ > > From: [email protected] on behalf > of Renee > Sent: Mon 10/10/2011 11:04 AM > To: Mosaic: A Reading Comprehension Strategies Email Group > Subject: Re: [MOSAIC] title 1 reading - help > > > > This was my first thought as well. There is no tool as good as ongoing > teacher observation. The powers that be, especially publishers, have > convinced so many people that this or that tool is more reliable than > the teacher's own observations. > > Think about this: what does a "tool" tell you that you do not know > yourself? I know that when I was teaching full time, I knew which > students needed extra support just by listening to them read to me, in > private, one on one. > > Renee > > > On Oct 9, 2011, at 7:09 PM, Sally Thomas wrote: > >> I wonder why special screning tools would be necessary if we use miscue >> analysis, words knowledge assessment (Words Their Way), observations, >> comprehension rubrics informally ala Keene etc. Those are part of >> ongoing >> classroom assessment. I would think a teacher would know strengths and >> needs and wouldn't need outside tools! >> Sally >> >> >> On 10/9/11 6:12 PM, "Dear" <[email protected]> wrote: >> >>> I've been following this conversation and I am wondering what >>> screening tools >>> people are using to identify students' needs. > > " What was once educationally significant, but difficult to measure, > has been replaced by what is insignificant and easy to measure. So now > we test how well we have taught what we do not value." > - Art Costa, emeritus professor, California State University > > > > _______________________________________________ > 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
