Reading Lesson Idea: Reading Accuracy Check

This is a good exercise to assess the reading skills your student has mastered and the ones that still need work. When done at regular intervals, you and your student will also have a record of your student's progress.

Adapted from Dimensions of Change, An Authentic Assessment Guidebook by Melody Schneider and Mallory Clarke.

• A complete text that is slightly challenging to the reader.
• A copy of the same text that you can write on.
• A tape recorder and tape are optional.

• The student reads the text orally, while the tutor marks any errors made in the following way:
• If the reader guesses phonetically, and produces a non-word, write the phonetic representation of what was said above the word.
• If the reader substitutes a word in context, write in the word replaced.
• If the reader leaves out a word, circle the omitted word.
• If the reader inserts a word, insert the word using a carat.
• If the reader corrects an error, underline the error.
• Finally, ask the student to retell or summarize the piece in her own words. The tutor records what she says, in order to assess comprehension.
• Analyze the results together: count the number of errors and inaccuracies and decide which strategies are working and which areas still need work.
• If the student is willing, record the reading. Listen to the recording and encourage the student to follow along on the text copy and analyze the errors as described above. These recordings will also serve as a good record of progress.