1. Benchmark Assessments in Literacy Jefferson County Schools Susan Roberts K-12 Literacy

2. Purpose of Assessment? Assessment should inform instruction. –Any test worthy of the time to administer must yield authentic information about where the child is now and where the child needs to go next. Assessment should yield the child’s reading level. Assessment should inform the teacher about what processes the child is or is not using. Assessment should inform the teacher about the child’s strengths and weaknesses in reading.

3. Balanced Literacy Four Blocks Grades 1-3 and Big Blocks Grades 4-8 “Best Practices” Model: Multi-level and Multi-approach –Guided Reading –Working with Words –Self-Selected Reading –Writing Five Core Components Phonemic Awareness Phonics / Decoding Skills Comprehension Vocabulary Fluency

4. Benchmark Assessments Curriculum Based Measures Authentic Valid and Reliable Inform Instruction Research Based

5. Third Grade Benchmarks Scott Foresman Baseline and End-of-Year Four Square Writing Sight Words (high frequency words) Scott Foresman Fresh Reads: Word Accuracy and Comprehension

6. Fourth Grade Benchmarks Scott Foresman Baseline and End-of-Year Four Square Writing Word Accuracy and Comprehension –Scott Foresman Selected Fresh Reads

7. Fifth Grade Benchmarks Scott Foresman Baseline and End-of-Year Four Square Writing Word Accuracy and Comprehension –Scott Foresman Selected Fresh Reads

8. Optional Assessments ThinkLink – Discovery Education DIBELS Checklists Anecdotal Records Rating Scales and Rubrics Portfolio Documents Informal Reading Inventories – Running Records “Kid Watching” (Observational Comments)

9. Additionally… Literacy Coaches to support balanced literacy instruction Testing Window: August 17 – September 3 Third Grade: Sight Words / High Frequency Words: Correlation with Fry List and Scott Foresman Assessment Portfolio on each child

10. More Support… Coming soon to a school near you… Literacy Coaches and … PLC’s Instructional Strategies Professional Book Studies Support for Struggling Readers TODAY…Break-out sessions 3,4,5 with literacy coaches!