Project for Section I:  Foundations of Literacy Assessment and Instruction

The focus on this section was to assure that readers have the background knowledge necessary to implement assessments, provides an understanding of the assessment and the academic language of literacy assessment, and the provides background knowledge about how to assess and instruct with individual student differences.  

Using what you learned in section 1, create an informational brochure that describes literacy assessment and instruction.  You must include information on the sections below defining and describing:

• Literacy
• Assessment
• Authentic assessment
• Evaluation
• Student factors that impact assessment
• Information highlighting what teachers will keep in mind when assessing students 

You may include additional sections.   You must use your own words in presenting your understanding of literacy assessment.  The purpose of this flier would be to educate parents about the purpose of literacy assessment and how the needs of their individual child will be safeguarded in the literacy assessment process.

Project for Section II:  Grade Level Assessments

The focus of this section was to assure that students understand the variety of assessments that are available to teachers to learn about student’s literacy assessment.

You will create an authentic assessment “portfolio”.    Your portfolio will be organized by Early Childhood and Intermediate grade level.  Each section of the portfolio will include:

• A description of a reader at each of the grade level bands
• What commercial assessments you would use with students in this grade band and why
• What you can learn from an informal reading inventory about students in this grade level band
• Four assessments that you would give each student in each band, a description of how to give the assessment and why you choose the assessment
• How you would plan for intervention for students in each band

Project for Section III:

The focus of this section was on the instructional strategies that teachers would use to meet students individual needs.

You will use the portfolio that you created for section II and extend it.  

• You will describe three instructional interventions for each grade band.  You must include an intervention for word work, comprehension, and fluency.
• You will describe how you will formatively assess the intervention.
• You will describe how each intervention meets the needs of students at the particular grade band. 

Project for Section IV:

The focus of this section was on providing tools for connecting readers to text.

In a short reflection, describe how the information in these two chapters will help you in prepare assessments and interventions for students across the grade bands.

Final Project:

Create an assessment handbook.

Using the projects above and the feedback provided by your instructor, create an assessment handbook that:

• Describes literacy assessment and instruction
• Provides key information for caregivers and teachers regarding the types of assessment
• Provides key information for caregivers and teachers regarding what to consider about students when engaging in literacy assessment
• Describes the difference between commercial assessments, standardized assessments and informal assessments
• Describes what can be learned from standardized assessments
• Describes at least four assessments for each Early Childhood and Intermediate grade level students.
• Describes interventions for students at Early Childhood and Intermediate grade levels and how assessment knowledge affects the implementation of these interventions.