Trial Teaching Strategies: Linking Testing to Teaching Mary Beth Curtis Center for Special Education March 31, 2009

Some Background Diagnostic Assessments of Reading (DAR) Criterion-referenced test Provides detailed snapshot of a student’s reading processes & products Using results from the DAR: Requires instructional strategies Requires resources to implement strategies

Trial Teaching Strategies (TTS) TTS provide a link between reading testing and reading instruction Web-based resource offering brief lessons Teachers and students get direction about the kinds of instruction and materials that may work best for improving students’ reading ability

Using the TTS Access a strategy either by entering a student’s scores or selecting an area of concern Discuss purpose of TTS with student Try out strategy and record results Reflect on results with student

An Example of a TTS Word Analysis: Polysyllabic words Analyzing Word Parts Recognizing Affixes http://www.dar-tts.com

TTS are a Form of Dynamic Assessment An Interactive Process Using an Assess-Intervene-Reassess Format

Foundations for TTS 1930’s: Vygotsky’s ZPD Late 1940’s: Sample lessons/Trial lessons used in reading clinics Late 1970’s: Feuerstein’s Mediated learning/Assessment of learning potential Present: Response to Intervention

Kinds of TTS on Website Print and Phonological Awareness Letters and Sounds Word Analysis and Recognition Oral Reading Accuracy and Fluency Reading Comprehension Spelling Word Meaning

Print Awareness TTS How a Book Begins The Difference between Letters and Words Knowing Where a Sentence Ends Relationships between Printed and Spoken Words

Phonological Awareness TTS Hearing and Making Rhymes Using Pictures in Hearing Rhymes Identifying and Counting Word Parts Recognizing Initial Consonant Sounds Recognizing Final Consonant Sounds Blending

Letters and Sounds TTS Using Key Words Tracing and Writing Letters Letter Matching Word Matching Word Family Approach

Word Recognition TTS Visual Approach Repeated Reading of Words

Word Analysis TTS Learning Sounds with Key Words and Pictures Using Consonants with Word Families Using Consonant Blends Phonic Blending Writing Words and Sentences Using Rule of Silent E Reading Words with Vowel Digraphs, Diphthongs, Vowel + R

Word Analysis TTS, Cont’d. Recognizing Syllable Types Using Rules for Syllabication Analyzing Word Parts Recognizing Affixes Reading Compound Words Dividing Words Into Parts

Oral Reading Accuracy TTS Teacher Identification of Difficult Words Student Identification of Difficult Words

Oral Reading Fluency Modeling Repeated Reading

Reading Comprehension TTS Listening Comprehension Active Engagement with Text Generating Main Idea Questions Comprehension Monitoring Summarizing

Spelling TTS Visualizing Words Copying Words Error Analysis

Word Meaning TTS Picture Cues Story Context Word Meaning Instruction Word Parts Instruction Semantic Clues Ways to Learn Word Meanings

What Makes TTS Helpful Builds relationship between teacher and student Emphasizes process as well as product Provides teacher with methods and materials Demonstrates capacity to learn

Concerns About TTS Absence of standardization and demonstration of technical adequacy Must be used in conjunction with more traditional measures Labor intensive administration and scoring

Some Recent References Caffrey, E., Fuchs, D., & Fuchs, L.S. (2008). The predictive validity of dynamic assessment. The Journal of Special Education, 41, 254-270. Fuchs, D., Fuchs, L.S., Compton, D.L., Bouton, B., Caffrey, E., & Hill, L. (2007). Dynamic assessment as responsiveness to intervention. Teaching Exceptional Children, 39, 58-63. Grigorenko, E.L. (2009).Dynamic assessment and response to intervention. Journal of Learning Disabilities, 42, 111-132. Macrine, S.L., & Sabbatino, E.D. (2008). Dynamic assessment and remediation approach. Reading and Writing Quarterly, 24, 52-76. Roswell, F.G., Chall, J.S., Curtis, M.E., & Kearns, G. Trial Teaching Strategies http://www.DAR-TTS.com