Matching students to the appropriate level of challenge for optimal performance and progress
Pre-Conference
Look for “Red Flags” in the following reports:
1. Read 180 Reading Progress Report (class)
- Sessions – To date, what would be a reasonable number?
- Average Session Length – This should be between 14-18 minutes. If it isn’t, why not? Which students are high or low? Class average? (If the software is on track with time, so should the other rotations!)
- Segments – Segments should be completed between 5-10 days. To date, what would be a reasonable expectation? (i.e. Sept-Jan, excluding holidays = at least 60 sessions = at least 6-8 segments)
- Sessions Per Segment –
- Too easy? Too fast? Which students are completing segments in less than 5 days? Look at the segments column. How many are they completing? Look at the Comprehension/Vocabulary Score – 70% or better?
- Too slow? Too hard? OR Not being strategic or efficient about the zone work? Which students are taking longer than 10 days? How many segments are completed?
- Software level vs. last SRI/Lexile (first 2 columns)
- Does the most recent SRI match current level? Remember, only the FIRST SRI matches to the software level. After that, teacher must re-level as necessary (usually leveling UP, rarely DOWN).
Level 1=BR-400L; Level 2=400-700L; Level 3=600-900L; Level 4 = 800-1200L
2. Read 180 Grading Report (class) Date range: School year
- Comprehension/Vocabulary/Context Passage:
- Are these scores also above 70%?
To drill down further, use…
3. Read 180 Student Reading Progress Report (student)
- What was happening across each segment?
4. Read 180 Student Segment Status Report (student)
5. Now meet with identified, red-flagged students…
During Software Conference – The conversation
Using Reports
SRI Student Yearly Progress Report
1. Let’s look at your progress on the SRI. The blue band represents the lexile range where proficient students at your grade level are. How close (or far) are you to that band? What is your goal for the next SRI? What steps can we take?
2. In Read 180 there are many opportunities for you to improve your Lexile, your comprehension, and your vocabulary. Tell me about how you feel you are doing in each area. Where can you improve?
3. (If a student’s Lexile has improved significantly, ask…) This improvement in your Lexile might mean that you are ready for more challenge in your software level. That’s great news!
Read 180 Student Reading Progress Report
(Also have on hand the blue Topic Software Resource Book)
4. Let’s look at your progress on each segment…we can see how many sessions it took to finish each one. What about your scores?
5. If less than 5 sessions, ask: Did that segment seem somewhat easy? Let’s look at a passage at your current level
6. If more than 10 sessions, ask: Did that segment seem somewhat challenging? What do you think slowed you down?
7. Let’s look at one of those passages at your current level. (Using the Topic Software Book, check for fluency by having the student read the passage aloud, noting any errors. Ask them to retell briefly.)
8. (If considering a move up a level…) Now let’s try the next level. Read this passage silently. Now read it aloud…
While Observing Students on the Software
9. (While on the Zone Menu, Stats) Show me your Daily Report. Let’s see how many segments you have completed. Now let’s look at your Reading Progress Report. How is the work going in each zone? Does any zone seem to take longer? Explain. Do you know that it should take only 5-10 sessions to close this?
10. (Continue gathering info about which strategies, if any, the student uses while in each zone. See the Tips sheet for suggestions.) Do you listen to Jackie read the passage? Do you preview the highlighted words (or any troublesome words) by clicking, or double-clicking to get the Word Window? Etc.
Making Changes to Levels/Skipping Segments
11. (See the Changing Levels handout for details. ) Are you willing to try this new level? What strategy can help you complete a segment?
D Rodaniche, IC, East Scholastic Inc