[MOSAIC] middle school reading assessment.

[CNJPALMER at aol.com]

Well, I went away this weekend so I am sorry I didn't respond right away to  
this post.
I think that assessment is tied in with comprehension instruction so I  
really don't mind this discussion. I think when we talk about assessment, we  have 
to decide, first, what are we assessing? Do we want to look at process  
(strategies---miscue analysis for example) or end product (comprehension)?   I think 
that we can use the SRI to get end product only. QRI has the potential  for 
both, depending on how you use it. As for Ellin's strategy interview...I  find 
I use it adapted in written form to see if I can get a handle on the  thinking 
processes being used. It is entirely formative...it shows me where my  
mini-lessons need to go next. When kids writing isn't clearly showing  thinking, 
then I go and have a conference with the child to get a better handle  on what is 
going on.  QRI has been the best predictor of success  in classroom 
instruction for me...SRI seems to predict how kids do on our state  test,
I try, always, to use multiple data sources before making decisions about  
kids. 
 
As for off-topic discussions...this is close to being "on topic" and I  am 
fine with it continuing.  Naturally, I would love to be hearing  some of what 
you all are doing in your classrooms related to comprehension  strategy 
instruction.  Perhaps we can start a separate thread by sharing  info about what we 
are trying??? I always feel like I am doing my job as  moderator better if we 
have at least some discussion about strategies going on  at any point in time...
Jennifer
Maryland
Moderator
In a message dated 3/9/2008 2:10:37 P.M. Eastern Daylight Time,  
gina_nunley at hotmail.com writes:

I have  to chime in and agree about the need for multi-assessments.  I have 
had  students who scored high on the SRI  (scholastic reading inventory), low  
on the state test, and middle of the road on QRI.   I use a spread  sheet that 
has all the data side by side so I can surmise who really needs a  closer 
looking at.

In regards to Lori's plea for continuing discussion  about middle level 
reading assessment I would be thrilled to do that.   

Moderators-  Do we need to do this off this site?

Our  campus is trying to create an RtI model and of course progress 
monitoring is  the hurdle for us.  QRI, STAR, SRI are all just to identify reading  
levels....they don't give short term "assessment for learning"  information.

You know I am on this list because I am a believer in MOT  and strategy work. 
 But I have to be honest...my attempt at using Ellin's  strategy interview 
bombed.  I just couldn't squeeze it in, and then I had  trouble using it in a 
way that I could bring to campus meetings.   









**************It's Tax Time! Get tips, forms, and advice on AOL Money & 
Finance.      (http://money.aol.com/tax?NCID=aolprf00030000000001)