Formal Assessments:
* Standardized Tests: These are norm-referenced tests that compare a student's performance to a national sample of students of the same age. Examples include:
* DRA (Developmental Reading Assessment): This assesses reading level through oral reading fluency and comprehension.
* Lexile Framework: This assigns a Lexile measure to texts and readers, indicating the reading level of both. Students are tested to find their Lexile level.
* STAR Reading: A computer-adaptive test that quickly and efficiently determines a student's reading level.
* ATOS (Accelerated Reader Test): Measures reading level and comprehension through quizzes on books read.
* Woodcock-Johnson Tests of Achievement: A comprehensive battery of tests including reading comprehension.
* Criterion-Referenced Tests: These tests measure a student's mastery of specific reading skills and concepts, rather than comparing them to others. They often align with specific curriculum standards.
Informal Assessments:
* Informal Reading Inventories (IRIs): These are teacher-made assessments that involve reading passages at different difficulty levels. They assess both oral reading fluency and comprehension through questioning. This allows for a more individualized and in-depth look at strengths and weaknesses.
* Running Records: The teacher observes a student reading aloud and records their errors, self-corrections, and reading rate. This helps identify specific patterns of reading difficulties.
* Miscue Analysis: A close examination of a student's oral reading errors to determine the types of errors being made and what they might indicate about the student's reading strategies.
* Retelling: After reading a passage, the student retells the story in their own words. This helps assess comprehension and understanding of key details and sequence of events.
* Questioning: Asking open-ended questions about the text to assess comprehension at different levels (literal, inferential, evaluative).
* Observations: Observing a student's reading behavior during independent reading, including engagement, fluency, and use of strategies.
Interpreting Results:
Regardless of the assessment method used, the results should be interpreted in context. A single test score doesn't fully represent a student's reading abilities. Consider:
* Student's Effort and Engagement: A student may score lower due to lack of effort or engagement, not solely due to reading ability.
* Multiple Data Points: Use a combination of formal and informal assessments to get a complete picture.
* Strengths and Weaknesses: Identify specific areas of strength and weakness in comprehension (e.g., recalling details, making inferences, understanding vocabulary).
* Individual Differences: Consider the student's background, learning style, and individual needs.
Ultimately, determining reading comprehension levels requires a comprehensive and ongoing assessment process involving multiple methods and careful interpretation of results. This information is crucial for teachers to plan effective instruction and provide differentiated support to meet each student's individual needs.