Yearly Assessments

Assessments

On-going assessment occurs in a variety of ways throughout the year in all classes. Authentic and on-going assessment allows teachers to make instructional decisions, guides next steps and provides a snapshot of individual performance. Report cards are one way that parents are informed about their child’s assessment results. 

As a school, Little Harbour is also committed to the following assessments:

• The Developmental Reading Assessment (DRA) is given to students in all grade levels. The DRA is administered a minimum of once a year in Kindergarten, and twice a year in grades 1-5 to monitor progress and help guide individual reading goals. Students who are reading below the expected benchmark may be given the assessment a second or third time for informational purposes. 

• All students are given a Dyslexia Screener in Kindergarten, and some may be reassessed in grade 1. While this screener is not intended to diagnose dyslexia, it does provide information around key skills for early reading allowing teams to instruct and intervene early, as well as monitor growth. 

• Grade Level screeners are used to capture a snapshot of each student and to gauge ongoing progress.

• Benchmark assessments and topic related modules allow teachers to design child specific interventions.

• Common high frequency reading word lists (grades K-3) and common high frequency spelling word lists (grades 1-5) are used as benchmark assessments.

• Individual student conferences in reading and writing (grades K-5) happen on an on-going basis

• Grade level specific writing prompt assessments are given at the beginning and end of the year.

• Statewide assessments are given in grades 3-5, generally occurring in the Spring. These assessments are administered through on-line modules, allowing for some adaptation based on student response. Information and results are helpful in providing a snapshot of individual students, as well as in looking at trends as a classroom, grade level, or school.