Assessment

There are two types of assessment—informal and formal—to determine students’ understanding of the selection vocabulary and how they determine the meanings of difficult words as they read. Continuous informal assessment allows teachers to adjust lessons and provide additional practice as needed.

Informal Assessment

Throughout the pre-reading, reading, and after-reading activities, teachers should monitor their students’ understanding by paying close attention to their general comfort level and their responses. They should note the questions students ask as well as the responses students give to questions. As students read, teachers should note their ability to use strategies and skills to determine the meaning of unknown words. Because students are thinking aloud, the teacher is able to truly evaluate their understanding of and ability to use strategies appropriately. This daily informal assessment allows teachers 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, teachers should follow up with students who need reteaching and reinforcement. At that time teachers have several options at their disposal. They can:

• Use the instruction in the Open Court Reading English-Language Development Guide or the SRA Imagine It! English Learner Support Guide to help their English learners focus on skills, strategies, or words with which they are having difficulty.
• Reteach individuals or small groups using the Reteach component of the program.
• Help students who need it reread the selection and clarify any remaining misunderstandings.
• Have the students work on related activities in their workbooks.
• Preteach vocabulary to students who need it in preparation for the next day's lessons.
• Give students who are doing well an extra challenge using the Challenge component of the program.

Formal Assessment

There are two types of assessment—informal and formal—to determine students’ understanding of the selection vocabulary and how they determine the meanings of difficult words as they read. Continuous informal assessment allows teachers to adjust lessons and provide additional practice as needed.

In addition to the daily informal assessment, teachers have at their disposal the formal assessment pieces provided with the program. These assessments cover the selection vocabulary 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 teachers with the information they needs to inform their instruction and individualize it to meet the needs of each student.