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Getting to Know Your Literacy Learner: Diagnostic Assessments
Getting to Know Your Literacy Learner: Diagnostic Assessments
Why Complete a Diagnostic Assessment with Grade 9 Students?
The 2022 Right to Read report by the Ontario Human Rights Commission found that Ontario’s education system lacks a universal, evidence-based screening process to identify students at risk for reading difficulties. As a result, many students miss timely interventions, leading to long-term literacy challenges. While the report focuses on early grades, it also highlights that many older students, including those in Grade 9, continue to struggle due to missed supports in earlier years. To address this, the OHRC recommends targeted strategies for older students. Effective instruction begins with understanding student needs through diagnostic assessments.
Where to Start at the Beginning of the Term?
CORE Reading Maze Comprehension Test
Source: Consortium on Reading Excellence. Assessing Reading: Multiple Measures. 2nd ed., CORE, 2018
Free Downloadable Measures are available HERE.
*A copy will also be available at the PDSB Professional Library in Fall 2025
QUICK MAZE Instructions - CORE Reading Comprehension Test.pdfWhere to Start? QUICK Guide to Maze
Instructions - CORE Reading Maze Comprehension Test.pdfFull Instructions on the Maze
CORE Reading Maze Comprehension Test - Student Passage 9A.pdfMaze Student Passage 9A
CORE Reading Maze Comprehension Test - Student Passage 9B.pdfMaze Student Passage 9B
Grade 9 MAZE Answer Key.pdfScoring Key
Norms - CORE Reading Maze Comprehension Test .pdfCORE Maze Norms
Diagnostic Plan for Students in Grade 4-12.pdfDiagnostic Plan for Students in 4-12
What Are My Next Steps?
If student MEETS benchmark on the MAZE, no further assessment is required at this time. Continue to work on Grade Level Curriculum and progress monitor, as needed.
If students did NOT YET MEET benchmark on the MAZE, implement the MASI-R Oral Reading Fluency (ORF) assessment and/or the CORE Vocabulary Screening Test to collect more data about the student learning needs.
MASI-R Oral Reading Fluency Instructions.pdfMASI-R Oral Reading Flluency Instructions
MASI-R ORF Passages 6A, 6B, 6C.pdfORF Reading Passages 6A, 6B and 6C
Oral Reading Fluency (ORF) Norms.pdfOral Reading Fluency Norms (Use Grade 8 Norms)
CORE Vocab Screening Instructions.pdfCORE Vocabulary Screening Test Instructions
CORE Vocab Screening Test - Student Form A and B.pdfCORE Vocabulary Screening Test Student Passages A & B
CORE Vocab Screening - Answer Key.pdfCORE Vocabulary Screening Test Answer Key
Need to Learn More About Your Literacy Learners?
Need to Learn More About Your Literacy Learners?
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