Literacy in the NELC
Regular communication to NELC Principals around literacy
Triangulating Data
When we triangulate data, we use multiple sources of data to illuminate, confirm, or dispute what is learned from an initial analysis of one piece of data. When looking at readers, it is essential to look for both patterns and inconsistencies across student responses to assessments.
Source: Assessment in Perspective: Focusing on the Reader Behind the Numbers
Middle and High School Triangulation
STAR
STAR Reading is designed for students in grades 1 through 12. A standard administration requires that a student have a sight vocabulary of at least 100 words.
In FCS, STAR is used as a Universal Screener for the RTI process.
STAR Reading presents students with 34 test items. The first 10 items assess general comprehension. The remaining 24 test items are skill based and are taken from a variety of skill areas.
Lexile
Both STAR and GA Milestones give Lexile measures that can be used as part of the triangulation process.
BAS/DRA and Running Records
The Benchmark Assessment System, or BAS, was created by Fountas and Pinnell to give teachers a text level that informs instruction. Starting in Kindergarten moving to 8th grade, students' accuracy, fluency, and comprehension is measured. Text level expectations for the months/quarters of the school year can be found here and here.
DRA levels represent on-grade level texts and correspond with the range of Fountas and Pinnell Guided Reading levels in the on-grade level zone.
In between beginning and end of year administrations (mid-year for below grade level readers), running records are used to continually inform instruction of student growth. Students who are below level are assessed weekly in order to goal set student learning.
Additional Resources
Amanda Swerdlow, NELC Humanities Program Specialist
Email: swerdlow@fultonschools.org
Twitter: @aswerdreader