Updating Instructional Levels

Updating Instructional Levels
September 27th PLC Conversation

The Elementary Assessment Calendar asks you to Update Guided Reading Instructional Levels using Spring Score and/or Running Record/Comprehension Interview in Skyward (by Oct. 12th). What does this mean?

In an effort to lessen the assessment load at the beginning of the school year, the district recommendation is to use the spring scores to get started. As we approach the 6-week mark in October, teachers are asked to update the students' instructional levels - without doing an F&P - so we can make informed decisions about our groups.

Why do we want to update instructional levels? This helps us to know where our students are at, and how to best design our instruction to meet their reading needs. There is a fine balance between building a confident reader, and stretching his/her reading ability. Through the use of formative assessments (i.e. running records and comprehension tools), we can make sure we keep our students in their Zone of Proximal Development - keeping instruction not too hard/frustrating, but hard enough to keep students progressing.

Here are some suggestions on how this might look:
(and what you will dig into at your PLC on Tuesday, Sept. 27th, with Lori B.)
1. Identify areas of concern or question for your students, through guided reading and/or conferring.
2. If accuracy is a question, complete a Running Record 100 word until the student falls below 95% accuracy. Then, do an error analysis and identify the types of errors the students are making, and adjust instruction accordingly.
3. If comprehension is a concern, start with the F & P Bookmark during guided reading/conferring, or complete the Keene Comprehension Conversation or Comprehension Interview Aligned to F&P. I'd suggest using a guided reading book (or a book you are familiar with) so you can ask deeper questions. This will provide insight into your students' level of comprehension.
4. Using a Running Record and/or comprehension check (F&P Bookmark/Comprehension Conversation, or Comprehension Interview) will provide information to help determine the student's instructional level.
5. Optional: You may want to record your students' levels, using either Running Record Student recording sheet and/or Running Record Class summary sheet.
6.  When finished, update students' instructional levels in Skyward, by October 3rd, so we can use the data for our grade level roll throughs on Oct. 4th.  See Sue with any questions.

FAQ
What if a student is considerably lower than last spring's data says?
For the most part, students will be close to their spring level.  I caution moving students backwards, as they were successful at that level at one point.  However, if the student is performing several levels below, instruct him/her where they are to avoid frustration, but make an effort to get them back up to speed.  Hopefully, this isn't very many students. Remember - we want to keep students in their Zone of Proximal Development, so Guided Reading should require them to work.
Can I determine my students' instructional level through guided reading?
Guided Reading provides an excellent opportunity for teachers to determine students' "performance" at a given level.  Most often, it becomes clear which students are above or below the level of the book being used, in accuracy and/or comprehension.

Additional Resources:

Professional Learning Opportunities for Running Records/Comprehension Interviews (Hudson School District Professional Development)

3-5 Presentation

K-2 Presentation