ORELA Reading & Literacy Development Flashcards

What is the primary purpose of a running record in literacy assessment?

Answer: To track oral reading accuracy and error patterns

A running record captures a student's oral reading behaviors — including errors, self-corrections, and substitutions — to inform instructional decisions.

Which comprehension strategy involves a reader creating mental images while reading to enhance understanding?

Answer: Visualizing

Visualizing encourages readers to form sensory mental pictures from text, which deepens engagement and aids retention of information.

What is a text structure strategy that helps students understand informational texts organized by problem and solution?

Answer: Identifying signal words like 'as a result' and 'the answer is'

Signal words such as 'the problem is,' 'one solution,' and 'as a result' help readers identify the problem-solution text structure in informational writing.

Tier 2 academic vocabulary words are best described as:

Answer: High-frequency words used across academic subjects such as 'analyze' and 'compare'

Tier 2 words are general academic vocabulary that appear frequently across disciplines and are critical for reading comprehension in school contexts.

Which approach to reading instruction emphasizes authentic literature and student choice, often contrasted with systematic phonics?

Answer: Whole language

Whole language instruction focuses on meaning-making through exposure to authentic texts and student-centered reading, de-emphasizing explicit phonics instruction.

Oregon's DIBELS (Dynamic Indicators of Basic Early Literacy Skills) benchmark assessments are primarily used to:

Answer: Identify students at risk for reading difficulties and monitor progress

DIBELS benchmarks screen for early literacy risk factors and track student progress over time, allowing educators to intervene early when needed.