One Test, One Story
Teacher Stories
Submitted by Joy of Teaching, on November 10, 2011
As a reading specialist, one of my duties is to identify students who are in need of reading intervention during the school year. In the primary grades (K-2) this is done through teacher observation, review of student work, the student’s ability to work independently and a DIBELS benchmark assessment. However, in the upper grades (3-8) identification relies solely on the results of ONE standardized test. The test was administered in March of the prior school year.
If a child scores below the 50th percentile, the child is determined to be eligible for intervention. The students who score in the bottom half are then ranked from lowest score to highest score. Those with the lowest scores are chosen to receive services by a reading specialist, math interventionist or attend an extended day program.
What I have found in reading, and important to note, is that the primary grade students who have had a thorough
