PALS Scores for 1st Grader - What is actually good and is it an indication of anything?

[Anonymous]

When we had our first grade son's parent-teacher conference at an APS, she launched right in to the PALS scores. She told us the statewide PALS score for 1st grade is 39. Our son's score was 88. She then went through his score for 1st, 2nd and 3rd grade PALS and shared that he was reading at close to a 4th grade level. This seemed great to us but her lack of enthusiasm suggested otherwise. Is that because all 1st graders in the APS system do much better than 39? Is it because we're in one of the N. Arlington schools where the peer group is generally excelling already in 1st grade? We're still perplexed by what the PALS system really means, if anything, and whether we should support him in reading beyond his level or just keep him reading whatever he's interested in (even if that means lots of Pokemon and Skylanders books?!). Any experience with this?

[Anonymous]

My 1st grade son had a similar score, but she said he was more at a 2nd grade reading level. I also have an older son who also scored very high on PALS and was at like a 5th or 6th grade level in 2nd grade. But his teacher said she was not sure he was actually comprehending all the words he was reading (i.e. he could pronounce them correctly, but didn't know what they meant), so she didn't think it was really that high. Yes, I do think most APS schools have very high scores. I don't know what the other scores were in my sons' class, but everyone I have talked to has had similar scores (in the 70s and 80s).

[Anonymous]

My 1st grade APS daughter is reading around a 3rd grade level. She has a good droup of peers in her class, too. They are focusing on comprehension, like the PP said. It didn't seem unusual to have a group of kids reading much higher than grade level.

[Anonymous]

Oops, GROUP of peers. There are 2 reading groups that make up almost half the class that are definitely above "average" for the grade level.

[Anonymous]

OP here - thanks for the insight from other parents on this. Helps me understand that he's doing fine but his score, in the context of the APS, is not exceptional. It's also interesting in that he was in kindergarten in a South Arlington school and was tagged as gifted in reading/language arts but that might have been so in the context of his-then peer group. Now, in a North Arlington school - and I do not want to stoke the flames of what seems to go on here on this forum - it may be that there is a more advanced peer group and he is more middle of the pack than above-average. Regardless, it's wonderful to see a child learn to read just 6-8 months ago and now be enjoying/devouring every book he can get his hands on!

[Anonymous]

I don't think it's that unusual. My 1st grader--S. Arlington elementary--was given a 95 on the PALS. We were told it doesn't measure comprehension--only decoding--and the DRA is a much better measure of "reading level."

[Anonymous]

I don't think it's that unusual. My 1st grader--S. Arlington elementary--was given a 95 on the PALS. We were told it doesn't measure comprehension--only decoding--and the DRA is a much better measure of "reading level."

[Anonymous]

What's the DRA?

[Anonymous]

Developmental reading assessment. In our school it's done at least twice a year, perhaps quarterly.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:When we had our first grade son's parent-teacher conference at an APS, she launched right in to the PALS scores. She told us the statewide PALS score for 1st grade is 39. Our son's score was 88. She then went through his score for 1st, 2nd and 3rd grade PALS and shared that he was reading at close to a 4th grade level. This seemed great to us but her lack of enthusiasm suggested otherwise. Is that because all 1st graders in the APS system do much better than 39? Is it because we're in one of the N. Arlington schools where the peer group is generally excelling already in 1st grade? We're still perplexed by what the PALS system really means, if anything, and whether we should support him in reading beyond his level or just keep him reading whatever he's interested in (even if that means lots of Pokemon and Skylanders books?!). Any experience with this?

Yes.

[Anonymous]

There is a different PALS test for each grade, correct?