STR Literacy Assessment and Intervention 1 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: Which type of assessment is used to identify students at risk for reading difficulties BEFORE problems emerge?
- Diagnostic assessment
- Universal screening (Correct answer)
- Summative assessment
- Portfolio assessment
Correct answer: Universal screening
Universal screening is administered to all students to identify those at risk for reading difficulties before they fall significantly behind.
Question 2: A diagnostic reading assessment differs from a screening assessment in that it:
- Is given to all students three times per year
- Provides detailed information about the specific nature of a reading difficulty (Correct answer)
- Measures only fluency
- Is used to assign final grades
Correct answer: Provides detailed information about the specific nature of a reading difficulty
Diagnostic assessments provide in-depth analysis of specific skill deficits to inform targeted intervention planning.
Question 3: Progress monitoring assessments should be administered to at-risk students at least:
- Once a year
- Monthly
- Every 1–2 weeks during intervention (Correct answer)
- Only when a teacher is concerned
Correct answer: Every 1–2 weeks during intervention
Research recommends weekly or biweekly progress monitoring during intervention to determine if the intervention is effective.
Question 4: Which model uses a tiered framework of increasingly intensive instruction based on student response to intervention?
- Balanced literacy
- Response to Intervention (RTI) / MTSS (Correct answer)
- Whole-language approach
- Literature circles model
Correct answer: Response to Intervention (RTI) / MTSS
RTI/MTSS uses tiered instruction (Tier 1 core, Tier 2 small group, Tier 3 intensive) with progress monitoring to guide decision-making.
Question 5: Which assessment would give a teacher the MOST information about a student's specific phonics skill gaps?
- ORF probe
- Phonics screener / decoding survey (Correct answer)
- Comprehension retell
- Vocabulary assessment
Correct answer: Phonics screener / decoding survey
A phonics screener or decoding survey assesses knowledge of specific phonics patterns (CVC, CVCe, blends, etc.) to identify skill gaps.
Question 6: Formative assessment in reading instruction is BEST described as:
- End-of-year standardized tests
- Ongoing data collection used to adjust instruction during the learning process (Correct answer)
- Diagnostic testing done only at the start of the year
- High-stakes assessments for accountability
Correct answer: Ongoing data collection used to adjust instruction during the learning process
Formative assessment is continuous, low-stakes data collection during instruction that informs real-time teaching decisions.
STR Literacy Assessment and Intervention 1
Which type of assessment is used to identify students at risk for reading difficulties BEFORE problems emerge?