Reading level --incorrect test

[Anonymous]

We just moved here this year. My DD was tested in reading the second week of school (FFX cty.). She is in second grade. They tested her at a DRA level 12, which is below grade level. She tested last May on Rigby PM Benchmark at her old school at level 21 (which roughly equates to a level 24 in DRA, according to the internet). Her reading has improved dramatically since last June when her old school tested her. I just listened to her read a book out loud that Scholastic rates as DRA level 28 (although I saw someone else say it was 24). She had very few errors. Based on that and the fact that she routinesly reads DRA level 24-28 books independently, I really think they are way off the mark. I would imagine she would test at least a DRA 20, if not 24.

What on earth do I do? They have put in her in the lowest reading group --which is clearly wrong. They say she cannot be re-tested according to county rules until January. Today, I sent in a copy of the reading test from her old school. At a conference yesterday, the teacher didn't seem to know what to do. I emailed the teacher the information this morning about the PM Benchamrk test last year and sent the test in with DD today. I haven't heard back yet (but I realize it's early). The teacher needs to pull DD's DRA test, which was apparently done by a reading specialist.

Any advice on how to advocate for DD? I don't want her stuck in a group that is way below her level.

(Sorry to my work colleagues if they are reading this after listening to me rant about this already.)

[Anonymous]

Ugh, how frustrating!!!! Yes, in many FCPS schools the DRA assessment is done by the reading specialist.

Since you have talked to the teacher and they are not sure what to do I would contact the reading specialist directly, mention your DD's previous score and results and indicate you feel that she is incorrectly placed. If that does not go well, I would then contact the principal.

Good luck!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote: I would contact the reading specialist directly, mention your DD's previous score and results and indicate you feel that she is incorrectly placed. If that does not go well, I would then contact the principal.

Good luck!

I would exactly the same.

[Anonymous]

Thanks for the advice. I appealed to the teacher and told her I wanted to speak with the reading specialist. She got back to me and told me they'd retest her this week. I know every parent thinks their child is brilliant, but that's not really the case. She reads DRA level 24-28 chapter books independently and out loud to me regularly. I know what she is capable of. Let's hope she doesn't choke on the test. I've been coaching her to make sure she doesn't skip words and to give as much detail as possible when re-telling for the comprehension part. Hopefully, I haven't freaked her out. Part of the problem is that she has never taken the test (before this year) so she doesn't know the drill.

[Anonymous]

OP. Hope your dc tested well.

[Anonymous]

Thanks. She did. I think it was a level 21. They moved her to the middle reading group, which seems more appropriate. She reads higher level books on her own, but I can see how she would test lower than what she reads one her own or with us because she tends to skip the little words or get the gist of things, so she'd be marked down for that. I do the same thing, so I can relate (although it never held me back -- I guess they didn;t test the same way when we were kids.)

[Anonymous]

I am glad she is in a better reading group. DRA doesn't just test how well they read it test their comprehension.

I have worked with kids who read very difficult books but if you ask them about the book they do not understand what they have read.

OP I see you seem to know something about reading levels. Maybe your child is one of those ones who reads books that are to advanced for her to comprehend all the fine detail. I think it is great she wants to read them and you allow it but if you could work on comprehension with her I bet she will check up.

I have done many DRA assessments I have tested some kids who read those paragraphs without a problem and then when you ask them simple questions they cannot answer them.

Just a thought.

[Anonymous]

OP here. Thanks. I appreciate the thoughts and the help. She actually comprehends well, but it seems she didn't "get" that she was supposed to tell them all of that detail when recounting the story (i.e. use the character names, etc.). Also, the first test was in writing and she doesn't like to write so she wrote very simple sentences. We are going to get her OT to help with her writing (privately, not through the school). The second test was oral, which worked much better for her. Interestingly, though, they only tested her at one level and didn't go any further. I guess that's ok, but I have a feeling they just tested what she'd need to get in the next group and didn't bother to see if she could so better. It seems to me that they underchallenge her, but I could just be overconfident in her abilities because I'm her mother.

[Anonymous]

OP, I think you got it pretty right. They don't often test to "challenge", that is generally only done at the beginning and end of the year I(and even then only to a certain degree). If she tested high enough to get into the next group, then that's all the info they really need for their purposes, KWIM?

It has been my experience in FCPS that there is not a lot of reading challenge until later grades. The early years are all about the reading basics and finding the kids who need a lot of help and getting them appropriate interventions. If your kid is on level or above, then that is really good enough for the schools. JMO, but it has been my experience, teachers have admitted as much to me and I have heard others in different (FCPS) schools say the same thing. Not that I am necessarily disagreeing with this approach, but it was not what I was expecting coming into it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP, I think you got it pretty right. They don't often test to "challenge", that is generally only done at the beginning and end of the year I(and even then only to a certain degree). If she tested high enough to get into the next group, then that's all the info they really need for their purposes, KWIM?

It has been my experience in FCPS that there is not a lot of reading challenge until later grades. The early years are all about the reading basics and finding the kids who need a lot of help and getting them appropriate interventions. If your kid is on level or above, then that is really good enough for the schools. JMO, but it has been my experience, teachers have admitted as much to me and I have heard others in different (FCPS) schools say the same thing. Not that I am necessarily disagreeing with this approach, but it was not what I was expecting coming into it.

But then how would they know if she really should be in the next group up if they didn't keep testing? Or can they just tell? She's new there this year so it's hard for me to get the feel for how it works.

[Anonymous]

But then how would they know if she really should be in the next group up if they didn't keep testing? Or can they just tell?

10:01 again.

Obviously, every school is different. But the way our school does things, there are essentially 4 levels of reading groups in K-2: ESOL/well below level, below grade level, at grade level, and above grade level. For these purposes, there is little difference between DRA scores that are within range for grade. So once they realized that she had a mid 20s DRA, they probably just put her in the group that matched that range and didn't really test to see if it was actually closer to the cutoff for the next group.

But I would urge you to talk to the reading specialist for more info about what they did. Every school is a little different.

[Anonymous]

Reading groups are not set in stone. Some kids move up some actually move down. There are certain rules to the DRA that the reading specialist has to follow.

I still would urge you to work on comprehension. The more detail the better. There are certain words the test are looking for.