Assessment

Standardized test taking has been common in classrooms for quite a long time.  I think we all can remember taking a few of them throughout our education whether it was TCAPs, the ACT, or something similar.  However, I recall looking over my test results and thinking that my knowledge wasn't being accurately depicted.  The truth is that perhaps it wasn't.

Source

Rubin (2011) believes that the best way to determine a child's reading level is not through standardized test alone but rather through comparing results from several assessment methods.  I completely agree with this, because every child learns or shows their strengths in different ways.  Every method measures reading ability in a different way which provides a more complete picture of a students reading level.  Multiple assessments also help teachers pinpoint specific deficiencies.  If a student scores similarly on each assessment, you can be fairly confident labeling them with a certain level.  However, if a student's scores are varied, you can better determine what their specific strengths and weaknesses are.  Rubin suggests using assessments like standardized tests, the cloze test, Informal Reading Inventories, and running records to place students into the reading levels of independent, instructional, and frustration.  I wonder, though, are there additional assessments teachers can use? Are three levels enough to accurately categorize students?