Benchmarking

We started Benchmarking this week. We assess students throughout the school year to gather data. We use this data and observations from our daily interactions with students to individualize instruction for each learner.

This morning, we took the "ORF Benchmarking Test". For about 10-15 minutes, students sat into two lines outside of the Title One Classrooms. We read our text book story, "The Hot and Cold Summer" while we waited our turns.

 Students enter the room and read at least three times to a Title One teacher. The teacher uses AIMSweb, a web-based program to track students' progress. They keep track of errors and how many words students read in one minute. ORF stands for Oral Reading Fluency (how many words you read in one minute). There is research that indicates the more fluent a student can read, the better success a student will have in comprehension. Basically, a fluent reader spends less time decoding, and their brains can focus on making connections and higher level comprehension. It is just one "picture" of student learning we use to support student learning.

Mrs. Ryan, fourth grade Title One Flex Teacher

Mrs. Winkler, fourth grade Title One Flex Teacher

Mrs. Ehlen, Title One teacher

You can see previous ORF scores on School-View under a "test" related section. When we complete the formal assessments this month, I will share the information with my homeroom parents.