ORELA ORELA Reading & Literacy Development 2 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: What is the primary purpose of a running record in literacy assessment?
- To measure writing conventions
- To track oral reading accuracy and error patterns (Correct answer)
- To assess silent reading speed
- To evaluate spelling proficiency
Correct 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.
Question 2: Which comprehension strategy involves a reader creating mental images while reading to enhance understanding?
- Summarizing
- Visualizing (Correct answer)
- Questioning
- Making connections
Correct answer: Visualizing
Visualizing encourages readers to form sensory mental pictures from text, which deepens engagement and aids retention of information.
Question 3: What is a text structure strategy that helps students understand informational texts organized by problem and solution?
- Story mapping
- Identifying signal words like 'as a result' and 'the answer is' (Correct answer)
- Character analysis
- Plot diagramming
Correct 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.
Question 4: Tier 2 academic vocabulary words are best described as:
- Basic everyday words like 'cat' and 'run'
- High-frequency words used across academic subjects such as 'analyze' and 'compare' (Correct answer)
- Highly technical domain-specific terms like 'mitosis'
- Sight words from the Dolch list
Correct 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.
Question 5: Which approach to reading instruction emphasizes authentic literature and student choice, often contrasted with systematic phonics?
- Structured literacy
- Whole language (Correct answer)
- Explicit decoding
- Direct instruction
Correct answer: Whole language
Whole language instruction focuses on meaning-making through exposure to authentic texts and student-centered reading, de-emphasizing explicit phonics instruction.
Question 6: Oregon's DIBELS (Dynamic Indicators of Basic Early Literacy Skills) benchmark assessments are primarily used to:
- Assign student grades
- Identify students at risk for reading difficulties and monitor progress (Correct answer)
- Evaluate teacher performance
- Select reading textbooks
Correct 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.
ORELA ORELA Reading & Literacy Development 2
What is the primary purpose of a running record in literacy assessment?