Context:  This course provided me with the methods to analyze a students reading strengths and weaknesses and to find their reading and spelling levels.  The Flash/Un-timed Word Recognition Test allows you to see if a student attacks words by sight or needs to use phonetic skills.  The Individual Reading Inventory is used to decide the Independent, Instructional, and Frustration reading level of the student.   The Spelling Assessments are used to determine their spelling level which can be different than their reading level.  This Spelling Assessment allows you to see weaknesses in spelling patterns. 

Impact:  These assessments have become a valuable part of my classroom and tutoring.  They allow me to plan my instruction to meet their individual differences.  I am now able to analyze my students' learning and not just teach to a class. 

Alignment: These reading assessments are aligned with the following NBPTS standards.

Standard 1  Teachers are committed to students and their learning.  Individual  assessments  allow me to recognize the individual differences that distinguish my students from one another and adjust my teaching.

Standard 2  Teachers know the subjects they teach and how to teach those subjects to students.  I am able to see the background knowledge that my students bring to reading and can plan the strategies I will use to teach them.   

Standard 3  Teachers are responsible for managing and monitoring student learning.  I can assess the progress of individual students as well as the progress of my class as a whole using these assessment techniques. 

Standard 4  Teachers think systematically about their practice and learn from experience.   By analyzing the growth or lack of growth of my students, I am able to think about my teaching and see where I need to improve    

Standard 5  Teachers are members of learning communities. These assessments also give me a concrete way to show parents their child's strengths and weaknesses.