Ms. Proby uses two types of assessment—informal and formal—to determine her students' level of understanding of the materials presented.

Informal assessment

Throughout the prereading activities, the reading of the selection, and the discussion of the selection, Ms. Proby continually monitors the students' understanding by paying close attention to their general comfort level and their responses. She notes the questions they ask as well as the responses they give to questions. As they read, she notes their ability to use the comprehension strategies and skills. Because students are thinking aloud, the teacher is able to truly evaluate their understanding of and ability to use strategies appropriately. It also provides teachers with some insight into what is problematic and which students are in fact monitoring their understanding and solving problems.

As she circulates around the room, she pays attention to what the students are writing in their Inquiry Journals and often asks them why they responded as they did. This daily informal assessment allows Ms. Proby to keep close track of which students are progressing well, which are struggling in general, and which are having difficulties with specific areas.

During Workshop, she will follow up with students who need reteaching and reinforcement. At that time, she has several options. She can:

• Reteach individuals or small groups using the Reteach component of the program.
• Have the students who need it reread the selection and clarify any remaining misunderstandings.
• Have the students work on related activities in their workbooks.
• Preteach students who need it in preparation for the next day's lessons.
• Give an extra challenge to students who are doing well using the Challenge component of the program.

In addition to daily informal assessment, Ms. Proby can also use the formal assessment pieces provided with the program. These assessments cover the skills taught in each lesson and use various standardized test formats in order to give students practice with such tests.

Together, these two types of assessment provide Ms. Proby with the information she needs to inform her instruction and individualize it to meet the needs of each of her students.