Our school is participating in a research study with the Dynamic Measurement Group from Eugene, Oregon. The purpose of this study is to improve the DIBELS assessment. Our school has been using DIBELS for several years and relies on the results to make important instructional decisions about student learning.

There are three components to this study. First, our assessment team received professional development training on how to administer and score these new assessments. At each benchmark period (fall, winter, and spring), we share the assessment results with the researchers. All identifying information about students is confidential and the researchers do not have access to any student names. The second component of the study is currently in progress. The researchers randomly selected 30 students from each grade level (K-6) to participate in reliability testing. RSF staff members are collecting those data (based on parental consent).

The final component of the study will occur in several weeks.  Classrooms at each grade level will participate in a group administered reading assessment. Classroom teachers will administered this assessment to students (in a similar format to CST testing). Testing will occur over 2-3 days and should take 15-20 minutes per day. Not every class will participate. The researchers randomly selected classrooms. Parental consent will be sent home in the next week. Please read the information and return the consent to your child’s teacher. If you do not give consent, your child will be sent to an alternative location during the testing time.

Our school is receiving several benefits from participating in this study. We have received high quality professional development on the administration, scoring, and interpretation of this data from the researchers. We also will receive a small amount of financial compensation that will be distributed to grade level teams to be used for improving student learning (e.g. building classroom libraries). Finally, we will receive some funding for professional development for the 2010-2011 school year. If you have specific questions, please contact the On-Site Coordinator for this study, Dr. Kristen MacConnell at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

Tips for Reading Success for Early Readers

Why is reading aloud to your child the number one suggestion from reading experts across the country? Because it builds the desire to read – in only 15 or 20 minutes a day! Whether your youngsters are already reading on their own or haven’t yet begun, now is the perfect time for reading aloud regularly. Here are a few tips to help you get the most out of your time together.

Get comfortable

Offer your children soft mats or pillows to sit on. Give them blankets to snuggle up in on cold days, or sit near a cool breeze when the weather is warm. Let them have a snack or drink before you start.

Remove distractions

Make your reading spot as quiet as possible so your child can focus on the story. Turn off the television and consider ignoring the phone to avoid interruptions.

Encourage participation

Children are apt to enjoy reading more when they’re invited to join in. Let them take turns choosing a book and turning the pages. If there’s repetition in a story, challenge them to recite the key phrases with you.

Keep it appropriate

If your kids have trouble following the language or plot of a story, it may be too difficult for them. Look for books that are closer to their reading levels. 

(Reading Connection/Resources for Educators)