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Comprehension is achieved when a student can read, process, and understand text.  Comprehension should be taught at all levels.  Our current educational system teaches children to read in kindergarten and transitions from learning to read to reading to learn in the third grade.  Comprehension is paramount to student’s success and is possibility the most critical step into their future.  Comprehension assessments cannot be taken lightly and must be used to ensure that children understand what they are reading and later learning to apply their comprehension.

Comprehension

Oral Comprehension
From the Nineteenth Mental Measurements Yearbook by Carlson, Geisinger, and Jonson

Title: Texas Primary Reading Inventory (TPRI)

Author: Texas Education Agency

Publisher: Paul H. Brooks Publishing Co., Inc.

Publication Date: 2010

Purpose: Designed to “measure students’ progress in the acquisition of important skills related to early reading.”

Test Categories: Phonemic Awareness, Graphophonemic Knowledge, Word Reading, Listening Comprehension, Reading Accuracy/ Fluency/ and Comprehension.

Population: K-3

Administration: Group

Time: Administration time not reported.

    This teacher-administered assessment of reading for children in kindergarten through third grade is designed to identify children at risk for reading difficulties.  The teacher’s guide states that the TRPI is best when given at the beginning, middle, and end of the school year.  The TRPI is closely linked to the curriculum making this an appealing assessment and tool for educators.  The TRPI is a criterion-referenced instrument with phonic and grammar elements that gradually increase in difficulty with grade level performance.  The assessment facilitates specific instructional needs in the area of Phonemic Awareness (K-1), Graphophpnemic Knowledge (K-3), Word Reading (K-3), Listening Comprehension (K), and Reading Fluency and accuracy (1-3).

Title: Woodcock Reading Mastery Test, Third Edition

Author: Richard W. Woodcock

Publisher: Pearsons

Publication Date: 1973 - 2011

Purpose: Designed to measure reading readiness and reading achievement.

Population: Pre Kindergarten through 12the-grade,

Administration: Individual

Time: 15-45 Minutes

    The test is consist of nine different measures that aid in the assessment of the students Letter Identification, Phonological Awareness, Rapid Automatic Naming, Word Identification, Word Attack, Word and Passage Comprehension, Listening Comprehension, and Oral Reading Fluency.  The reading mastery test is a Norm Referenced test that can be broken down into subgroups.  The test scores are detailed enough and gives educators enough knowledge of the student that it helps the teacher create lesson plans based on the needs of the student.

Silent Reading
TOSREC Silent Reading Efficiency and Comprehension​

This assessment, found on pro.ed and international publisher website, boasts that the $304.00 assessment is a group or individually administered test.  The assessment measures silent reading and connecting text to comprehension.  The TOSREC Silent Reading Efficiency and Comprehension assessment is a scientifically studied battery of four separate test that uses the data collected on 3,523 students as a basis for its assessment.  The TOSREC assessment offers advantages to oral reading fluency in the areas of screening and progress monitoring.  The unique format allows students to connect the reading dorm text silently for comprehension.

 

  • This assessment is found on the pro.ed website and was created by Wagner, Richard K.; Torgesen, Joseph K.; Rashotte, Carol A.; Pearson, Nils A.

  • Can be used as a formative or summative assessment.

  • The assessment is used primarily in grade PK-5.

  • Testing takes roughly three minutes to conduct.

  • The test has several different versions that are used to differentiate using the four seasons as a pattern.

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McLeod Assessment of Reading Comprehension

The McLeod assessment of reading comprehension assesses reading using a “closed” technique.  Students are assessed when reading a passage that has words randomly removed from sentences.  Comprehension is required on order for students to insert the correct word into the sentence.  The passages are in order of difficulty and do not represent specific grade levels.  There are a series of two separate test that are designed for lower elementary and middle grades.  The test can be conducted in a large group format and act as a great informal or formal assessment.  The document contains everything that you need to start and a great grading scale for measuring the level of comprehension.

  • Found on arizonansforchildren.org website and created by John McLeod and Rita McLeod

  • Can be used as a formative or summative assessment

  • Used in both elementary and upper grades

  • Takes approximately 15 minutes to conduct

  • Conducted in either large or small group settings that are quiet and allow students the atmosphere to read and think uninterrupted.

  • The assessment is free from copyright infringement; it can be reproduced for classroom instructions.

This assessment is more of a question and answer that helps guide the teachers instructional strategies and encourage students to read aloud.  The assessment uses a strategy called think aloud, basically the student reads a passage two to three times then repeats it loudly until they become comfortable with “thinking aloud” when they read it.  This assessment takes a few minutes to conduct and is based on the reading level of the student.  I would use it toward the end of first grade as an informal assessment that helps reluctant readers or the shy student within the class.

 

  • This assessment is found on Scholastic Website

  • Can be used as an informal formative assessment

  • Used in lower elementary schools

  • Time is dependent upon the reading level of the student

Read Aloud
Scolastic Assessment
Running Record

The running record assessment is a record is a great assessment to use in your classroom.  The assessment can be conducted quickly and frequently as a formative assessment.  The assessment provides a graphic representation of a student’ oral reading and identifies patterns of effective and ineffective strategies.  The assessment takes a few minutes to conduct and is a great tool to use prior to the opening bell and the start of the school day.  Running records can be used to document reading progress over time, match students to the appropriate books and help guide the teacher in deciding what students need to learn.

 

•    Found on Teacher vision and created by Maria Clay

•    Is an excellent informal formative assessment

•    Used in lower elementary schools

•    Takes minimal time to conduct

References                  

Clay, M. (2015). Running Records. Retrieved from Teacher Vision: https://www.teachervision.com/read-aloud/assessment/48545.html

McLeod, J., & McLeod, R. (1999). McLeod Assessment of Reading Comprehension. Retrieved from Arizonans for Children: http://www.arizonansforchildren.org/UserFiles/File/Diagnostics/mcleod_diag.pdf

Scholastic. (2015). Teachers Where Teachers Come First. Retrieved from Scholastic : http://www.scholastic.com/teachers/article/how-implement-read-aloud-strategies-your-class

Wagner, R. K., Torgesen, J. K., Rashotte, C. A., & Pearson, N. A. (2010). Pro ed An International Publisher. Retrieved from Reading: http://www.proedinc.com/customer/productView.aspx?ID=4687

 

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