There are a few different types of assessments that you can use to assess your students. This will depend on your district and/or your campus, as well as what has been purchased for you. We have two different assessments that are administered to our students - the Development Reading Assessment (DRA) and the STAR reading test. The primary test administered is the DRA, while the STAR reading test is secondary.
The Development Reading Assessment is given to all students three times per year - beginning, middle, and end of the year. The test materials are created by Person and come in a kit containing all of the books, forms, and manuals needed for administering the test. In order to assess a student, you simply give a student a book from the kit and allow them to begin reading. You will often know their approximate reading level based on previous tests given and the child's grade level. As the child reads, you keep a running record on the form provided in the kit. At the end of the given section, you are able to calculate fluency for the child. If too many mistakes are made, you will need to move the child down a book level. If the child reads fluently and quickly, you may move them up a book level. If the book is "just right" for the child, you will proceed with the assesmsent.
Part two of the DRA is comprehension. Depending on the child's reading level, they may be given the book to finish reading independently. Once the child has finished reading the book, he/she will meet back with you to discuss the rest of the story. At this point, you will ask the child comprehension questions based on the book (questions are pre-written on the form). As the child responds, briefly write the response on the form. Then calculate the number of comprehension questions answered correctly.
After administering both the fluency and comprehension portions of the test, there is a section for the teacher to fill out that specifically analyzes each component of fluent reading. This includes rate, accuracy, fluency, expression, literal comprehension, summarizing, interpreting, predicting, and much more.
Once all of the components of the DRA have been administered, and the teacher has analyzed the child's reading, the teacher is able to determine the child's approximate reading level. These reading levels are then used to group students for guided reading groups.
Our district uses the Accelerated Reader program. The STAR Reading test is an online test that helps us determine the reading level of a child. These reading levels coincide with the Accelerated Reader book levels. Since the test is online, I am able to sign up for a computer lab and test all of my students at the same time. In addition, all data is kept within the software so the teacher is able to pull several different reports. Teachers can run diagnostic reports for each child with specific information about the child's strengths and weaknesses, as well as class reports that simply give the scores for each child. You are also able to schedule progress monitoring for at-risk children.
Since I teach third grade students, this is a a great assessment to give to new students before giving the DRA as it gives an estimated reading level. This makes it easier for me to administer the DRA because I do not spend so much time starting with books that are too easy or too hard for the child.