Several weeks ago I went to a presentation by Fountas and Pinnell regarding their new reading assessment. I have used DRA, Rigby, IRI, QRI, and running records to assess my kids for many years. But, the F & P kit has some different features that I am anxious to use. It is broken into two kits - K-2 and 3-8. Each kit comes complete with fiction and non-fiction at each level, a user's guide, protocols and recording forms, a protocol and recording form CD, data management CD, a professional development DVD, and a calculator and stopwatch.
During the presentation, Gay told us that each book was specifically authored with their(F&P) develomental priorities at each level in mind, and that they (F & P) reread each text to make sure the skills were presentated in the way they imagined. If they were unhappy with wording or placement of the text, they went back to make sure the changes were made before anything is printed - it's due out in August. There is one component of this kit that I am really excited about - the Continuum for Learning. This resource provides you with a list of all the specific 'criteria' at each level and also what skills the student should be using/learning at this level. I only got to see an overhead of a page from the continuum - they didn't have it printed as of the date of this workshop - but it really looked very detailed and, I think, will help to develop the curriculum for reaching each child at their level. Included in the assessment is a 'comprehension conversation' about each text following the reading, and the protocol allows for understanding of thinking within the text, beyond the text, and about the text. Prompts are provided to help get the discussions moving. There is also an optional writing/drawing prompt if you would like more information on a student. I am planning on using it with my population of kids - basic skills - in September to level each of my students. Gay said that it takes anywhere from 20-45 minutes depending on how detailed you are with each child, i.e. the writing/drawing piece. An average classroom of students would take between 2-3 weeks to complete. Some of the teachers at the workshop seemed concerned with the amount of time needed to assess the entire class, but Irene shared that once you have completed this assessment, you can pretty much create your reading mini-lessons for each child for the balance of the year because you get so much information from it. There was a question/answer portion and I talked about leveling students where they level at one place for fiction and usually drop 1-2 levels in the non-fiction. Irene responded that teachers don't teach children how to read non-fiction enough, and that those students who receive equal support in learning how to read both fiction and non-fiction will be at the same level. Needless to say, that was a 'duh' moment for me. Linda -------------- Original message -------------- From: Karen Shook <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> > I have not used the F&P assessment kit - but I was at a conference where they > gave a little sample pack. It looks similar to the DRA2 - but with a F&P > flair > mainly with differences in comprehension component (which I prefer from what > I > see in the sample) and the optional assessments, and they have a non-fiction > for > each level - the DRA2 doesn't start at level A with non-fiction as an option. > Along this line though the DRA2 has several books for each level and it looks > like only 2 per level - so this might pose a problem. Also, the writing > portion > seems more managable in the K-2 pack. You can see the examples at this > address - > they look like the same ones that came in my pack. Just my two cents on what > I > saw, but take a look. > > http://www.fountasandpinnellbenchmarkassessment.com/ > > They have samples from both the K-2 and the 3-8 pack. > Karen > 1st/MI > > [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: > Has anyone seen the new F&P assessment kit? Our reading department is > getting it in August and we'll receive a day or so of training. We'll then be > switching to all of us (reading specialists) using it for our intervention > kids. > Our previous assessments became classroom teacher assessments and so we need > one that is just for us. I saw others on this listserv talk about the > DRA2--are the books the same as the original kits? If not, maybe that will be > another way to go. > Thanks- Michelle AIS/NY > > > > ************************************** See what's free at http://www.aol.com. > _______________________________________________ > Mosaic mailing list > Mosaic@literacyworkshop.org > To unsubscribe or modify your membership please go to > http://literacyworkshop.org/mailman/options/mosaic_literacyworkshop.org. > > Search the MOSAIC archives at http://snipurl.com/MosaicArchive. > > > > > --------------------------------- > Bored stiff? Loosen up... > Download and play hundreds of games for free on Yahoo! Games. > _______________________________________________ > Mosaic mailing list > Mosaic@literacyworkshop.org > To unsubscribe or modify your membership please go to > http://literacyworkshop.org/mailman/options/mosaic_literacyworkshop.org. > > Search the MOSAIC archives at http://snipurl.com/MosaicArchive. > _______________________________________________ Mosaic mailing list Mosaic@literacyworkshop.org To unsubscribe or modify your membership please go to http://literacyworkshop.org/mailman/options/mosaic_literacyworkshop.org. Search the MOSAIC archives at http://snipurl.com/MosaicArchive.
