At the beginning and end of the school year, the 2&3 teachers conduct benchmark assessments with the students to see how each student is progressing in his or her own reading. The students read a short book, one or two that seem to be just right for them, not too easy and not too hard. Then they are asked some comprehension questions to see what they understand about their reading. The teacher considers all of these aspects as she evaluates a child’s reading ability.
Examples of a Benchmark Book
The teachers begin to understand more about each student’s reading while doing benchmark assessments, such as their fluency (how smooth and expressive the reading is), pacing (how fast or slow), and decoding (how well do they read words correctly). In addition, the teachers evaluate strengths and areas of growth pertaining to reading.
Examples of a Benchmark Assessment
During the past couple weeks, the teachers have been able to meet individually with students to conduct these assessments. Using these benchmark assessments, the teachers create guided reading groups that will change as students develop their reading skills. They may be in a group for 3-6 weeks and then be placed in a different group to work on different skills.
