
Assessments are an essential part of literacy instruction. They help educators identify students’ strengths and areas for growth, monitor progress, and plan effective instruction. Here are common reading assessments used in early elementary settings:
Benchmark Assessment System (BAS)
BAS provides leveled texts and recording tools for teachers to evaluate students’ reading accuracy, fluency, and comprehension. It helps determine independent and instructional reading levels.
Dynamic Indicators of Basic Early Literacy Skills (DIBELS)
DIBELS measures phonemic awareness, alphabetic principle, fluency, and comprehension. These brief assessments are administered multiple times a year to track progress in key early literacy skills.
Running Records
Running records are informal assessments that capture students’ oral reading behaviors in real time. Teachers note errors, self-corrections, and strategies used, then analyze the data to inform instruction.
Progress Monitoring Tools
Regular progress monitoring, such as Fundations unit assessments or STAR 360 reports, provides timely data on students’ mastery of specific skills and standards.