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: Best Practice Model
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
Drive Instruction
Research Based

5. Kindergarten Benchmarks
Scott Foresman Baseline
Phonological Awareness (KPAT)
Sight Words (high frequency words)
Alphabet Knowledge

6. First Grade Benchmarks
Scott Foresman Baseline and End-of-Year
Phonological Awareness
Sight Words (High Frequency Words)
Word Accuracy and Comprehension
Scott Foresman Selected Fresh Reads

7. Second Grade Benchmarks
Scott Foresman Baseline and End-of-Year
Phonological Awareness
Sight Words (High Frequency Words)
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 administration of assessments
in first and second grades
Schedule to be determined
Testing Window: August 17 – September 3
Sight Words / High Frequency Words
Correlation with Fry List and Scott Foresman
Reading Portfolio per student

10. Coming soon to a school near you…
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 K,1,2 with literacy coaches!