PALS Assessments, Instructional Resources, and Data EDIS 5020: Instruction and Assessment Thursday, January 31st Ellen O. Shrum, PhD

Agenda PALS: Origin, purpose, and assessments PALS-PreK: Administration, scoring, and data-generated reports PALS-K: Administration, scoring, and data-generated reports PALS 1-3: Administration, scoring, and data-generated reports PALS K-3: A screening tool PALS Quick Checks PALS: Instructional resources PALS Website Formative Assessment: Driving and Monitoring Instruction

PALS: Why Was PALS Developed?

What Is PALS? The Phonological Awareness Literacy Screening (PALS) is a research-based organization dedicated to providing instructionally useful literacy assessments on which to plan, implement, and assess instruction and on which to assess and monitor student literacy achievement.

PALS Assessments Criterion-referenced assessment developed by Marcia Invernizzi, PhD, and her colleagues at the University of Virginia. Used in all fifty states and several foreign countries. Since 1999 serves as Virginia’s universal screening and diagnostic literacy tool.

PALS: Assessments PALS-PreK PALS-K PALS 1-3 PALS Quick Checks (RtI) PALS español (in development) PALS 4-8 (in development)

PALS Purpose Diagnose children’s knowledge of literacy fundamentals Screen for students who may be in jeopardy of not reading on grade level by the end of third grade Monitor effectiveness of instruction, and student progress Plan instruction that targets children’s needs

Data You Can Trust Each task is research-based and measures a component of early literacy development shown by research to predict later reading achievement. Strong technical adequacy was established by thorough pilot studies with large sample groups. Most excellent ratings on the National Center on Response to Intervention’s Screening Tools Chart

http://www.rti4success.org/screeningTools

PALS Assessments: Literacy Skills PreK K PALS 1-3 Print and Word Awareness ✓ Nursery Rhyme Awareness Name Writing Rhyme Awareness Beginning Sound Awareness Alphabet Knowledge Letter Sounds Concept of Word Blending Sound-to-Letter Spelling/Phonics Word Recognition in Isolation Oral Reading in Context (accuracy, fluency, WPM/rate, and comprehension) PALS Assessments: Literacy Skills NN packet: Page 1, bottom slide

PALS: Assessments and Web Site Online Score Entry and Reporting System (the PALS Web site) PALS Assessments (PALS Materials)

The PALS Web Site, aka The Online Score Entry and Reporting System Enter scores into online account Score entry generates reports for assessing (PreK-3), screening (K-3), diagnosing, and progress monitoring Resources available for planning instruction Downloadable progress monitoring assessments (K-3) (Quick Checks)

PALS-PreK Assessment

PALS-PreK Assessment Is a developmentally appropriate assessment Provides critical literacy data upon which to plan instruction Administer in fall, mid-year, and spring of the 4-year-old preschool year (same form administered each time)

PALS-PreK: Materials Teacher’s Manual Child Packet Child Summary Sheet Class Summary Sheet

PALS-PreK: Preparing to Administer

Flexible Administration Schedule Complete PALS-PreK administration within any contiguous two-week period during the four-week window Fall screening window begins six weeks after the first day of school 1st day of school + 6 weeks = 1st day of your PALS-PreK fall window

Calculating Your Assessment Windows

How Much Time Is Required to Administer PALS-PreK? Untimed, varies child to child Flexible administration – customize to your schedule (for example, administer one task per day to break up the assessment)

Who Should Administer PALS-PreK? Teachers Reading specialists Instructional support colleagues

To Whom Should PALS-PreK Be Given? Mandatory for children in Virginia whose PreK enrollment is partially of fully funded by the Virginia Preschool Initiative (VPI) Optional for all other preschool children

PALS-PreK: Task Administration & Scoring

PALS-PreK: Tasks Each task represents a literacy fundamental that is predictive of future reading success. Task Includes Name Writing Alphabet Knowledge Upper-Case Alphabet Recognition Lower-Case Alphabet Recognition Letter Sounds Beginning Sound Awareness Print and Word Awareness Rhyme Awareness Nursery Rhyme Awareness NN packet: Page 2, top - Tasks mirror instruction. Each task reflects activities that children should encounter in an everyday preschool setting. Tasks may be administered in any sequence, but Beginning Sound awareness and Rhyme Awareness should not be administered consecutively. Tasks may be administered over several days within 2-week period. Not timed, but 20-25 minutes per kid probably.

PALS-PreK Administration One-on-one administration Approximately 25 minutes per child Developmentally appropriate Flexible administration--Don’t have to administer the entire assessment at one time (For example, one can administer one task to all children on each day for six days.) Fall, Mid-Year, and Spring recommended assessment windows Enter scores online via traditional score entry or the Online Assessment Wizard

Task: Name Writing Say, If the child is reluctant to attempt name writing, encourage the child to “pretend” to write his or her name or collect a writing sample at a more informal time. Not an all-or-nothing skill – it develops gradually and reveals what students know about early components of literacy. I would like for you to draw a picture of yourself, and then write your name. When you are finished, I’d like for you to show me your name.

Name Writing: Scoring (Administration & Scoring Guide, Page 14) Scoring samples demonstrate the continuum of name writing development Only the written name is scored; it is not necessary for the child to draw a picture Not scored based on neatness Question child for clarification on letters if necessary

PALS-PreK: Logging Into A Teacher Account

Step 1: Go to the PALS Web site. https://pals.virginia.edu

Step 2: Place your cursor on the yellow-highlighted area, and move it down to the second link, Virginia PreK. Click here.

Step 3: On the Login Page that appears, enter user name and password.

Step 4: Upon login, you’re on the ADMINSTRATIVE tab.

Child Information: Accommodating Non-Standard Administration E

Entering Scores

Two Ways to Enter Scores for Instant Access to Child Data! Traditional Score Entry: Record scores on Child Summary Sheets. Then, after administration, enter scores into the PALS Web site (aka, The Score Entry and Reporting System). Online Assessment Wizard: Enter scores directly into the PALS Web site during or after administration.

Score Entry Option: Traditional Score Entry

Step 1: Highlight a child’s name and click the link, “Enter Child’s Scores.”

Step 2: Enter scores and click the link, “Submit Scores.”

Score Entry Option: The Online Assessment Wizard (OAW)

Benefits of “the Wizard” Efficient Flexible Creates item-level reports

Efficient Reduces paperwork (e.g., Student Summary Sheets) Decreases chance of transfer error during score entry Guides K-3 assessment process (in fall and spring) Keeps track of scores Reduces assessment time

Flexible Use with one or all of your students Use during or after administration Use regardless of the score entry school colleagues use

Creates Item-Level Reports Student OAW Report Alphabet Recognition Letter Sounds Print and Word Awareness Class OAW Report

Using The Online Assessment Wizard (OAW)

Step 1: Highlight a child’s name and click “Online Assessment Wizard.”

Step 2: Review information on Welcome Page; then, click the Continue Icon or the Task Icon. Continue Icon Task Icon

Step 3: Select a task.

Upper-Case Alphabet

Using the Online Assessment Wizard: PALS Practice Accounts

PALS-PreK Data Generates Reports

Child Summary Report

Individual Task Growth Report

Class Summary Report