|
I am interested in finding out from kindergarten teachers what they expect kindergarteners to know when they arrive in September. How do they assess whether that child is prepared to learn? I am especially interested in how teachers may have changed their expectations or assessment procedures with the development of SOLs. As well, I am interested in how teachers are managing the inclusion of the diverse population of learners, what do they do to assess when learners have wide range capabilities or cultural needs?
Dear Ms. Hornstead:
-->
By Louise Homstead on Friday, January 8, 1999 - 11:02 am:
Thank you for your input.
By M. Kenneth Magill on Friday, February 5, 1999 - 11:59 am:
I am replying to your e-mail message of January 8 asking what kindergarten children should know when they begin school.
One of the ways that kindergarten teachers assess students' emerging literacy skills is by using PALS (Phonological Awareness Literacy Screening). In 1997, the Governor proposed and the General Assembly funded the Early Intervention Reading Initiative. The initiative finances the statewide diagnostic literacy assessment, PALS. This fall, in 106 of the 132 school divisions in Virginia, kindergarten and/or first grade teachers used PALS to assess students' knowledge of early reading skills.
PALS is correlated to the English Standards of Learning as follows:
Rhyme SOL K.4, K.7
Beginning Sound SOL K.7, 1.4
Alphabet Knowledge SOL K.9, K.11, 1.5, 1.13
Letter Sounds Knowledge SOL K.4, K.7, 1.6
Spelling (SOL K.11, 1.12
Concept of Word: Pointing SOL K.5, 1.5
Concept of Word: Word Identification SOL 1.5, 1.9
Word Recognition for 1st grade SOL 1.5
The initiative also includes additional instructional time to deliver early intervention services to students who need help with early reading skills.
Listed below is a representative sample of the comments received from teachers after the first year of the Early Intervention Reading Initiative:
Teachers are more aware of the Standards of Learning
Students' strengths and weaknesses are clearly demonstrated
Easy to plan instruction following screening
Invaluable information for parent conferences
Kindergarten students are excited about being able to "read" quickly
This is the best prepared kindergarten class going to first grade. First grade teachers will need to begin teaching on a higher level.
We hope this information responds to your concern. For additional information, please call Dr. James Heywood, director of elementary and middle school education, at (804) 225-2865.
Thank you.
|
|