A reading level assessment is one that determines the level at which a child is reading. Often, a reading level assessment is done using leveled readers, or books that have been "leveled" based on reading development using either the Reading Recovery or Guided Reading methodologies. The books are written according to standardized criteria that help teachers gauge a student's particular level of literacy development
Reading Records is a highly effective methodology for conducting a reading level assessment to help teachers understand early literacy skill development. Developed by Australian researcher Marie Clay, the author of An Observational Survey of Early Literacy Achievement and responsible for Reading Recovery and the concept of Emerging Literacy, Reading Records are based on the theory that, by understanding the types of errors a student makes, teachers can better diagnose the specific skills the student needs to acquire in order to improve literacy.
Reading Records:
Observe rather than evaluate
Describe strategies readers employ to learn sounds, letters, and words
Provide insight that helps direct instruction
Measure a student's current reading level or benchmark
Assess a student's general strategies for attacking words using MSV Analysis, Meaning, Syntax or Structure and Visual clues
Identify a student's specific techniques for reading success
Reading levels include: Independent (95% accuracy or above), Instructional (90-94% accuracy) or Frustrational (89% accuracy or below). A reading level is not assigned to students reading at the frustrational level. Accuracy must be 90% or above before a level is assigned.
Errors include Substitution (Sub), Omission (O), Insertion (^), Told (T), Try That Again (TTA). In analysis of miscues, good readers will 1. Look at a word 2. Sound out the first letter and other parts of the word (V) 3. Predict a word that makes sense (M) and sounds correct (S)
Meaning
Did the meaning in the passage have an influence on the miscue or self-correction? Does the word make sense in the passage, even if it is not the targeted word?
Syntax/Structure
Did the structure of the language have an impact on the miscue or self-correction? Is the error the correct part of speech?
Visual
Did the visual information affect any part of the miscue? Do any parts of the miscue look like the targeted word?
Good readers also confirm the prediction before saying it. Reading maturity means using a balance of all strategies.
Wireless Generation's mCLASS®:Reading solution is a complete handheld-to-Web assessment solution delivering a suite of formative early reading assessment tools - including reading records, an accuracy/fluency assessment, and a comprehension rubric - combined with a 4000 book Online Literacy Library. mCLASS:Reading software allows teachers to track students' reading levels using four different, commonly used leveling systems.
While paper-based Reading Records can be challenging to administer, mCLASS:Reading software makes the assessment process easy, fast, and dramatically more efficient. Teachers can quickly set up assessments using pre-loaded class lists and leveled readers. mCLASS:Reading Online Literacy Library contains thousands of books from 15 of the leading education publishers - including 500 in Spanish - ready to download to the handheld for assessment.
mCLASS:Reading software is easier than paper; the text of the selected book appears on handheld, and the teacher tracks student performance with simple notes and taps. A built-in timer automatically calculates words correct per minute. mCLASS:Reading software saves time and paperwork, while helping to track and analyze reading progress of students and classes. When synced, the mCLASS:Reading solution generates reports to communicate results with parents and other staff members.
The mCLASS:Reading assessment begins when the assessor chooses a text from the Online Literacy Library and then observes the student reading text, while recording notes on the PDA. Then the assessor syncs information at a designated Sync Station and the information is stored and used to report progress and guide instruction.
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