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p_jesten June 9, 2009

DRA Reading Question

p_jesten
I am in VA - can anyone tell me how they arrive at the scores? It says its not just the reading test that they are given at the end of the Kindergarten School year.

When he was tested in the fall his scores was 4 times higher than others and at the end of the school year his test was LOWER than a lot of the kids. What can I do to help my child. My school has been no help what so ever. I have been trying to schedule a meeting and no one is listening to me.
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Parent Answers to "DRA Reading Question"

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MsBear
MsBear June 18, 2009
I do not know DRA2 WA score is. But normal DRA, scholastic web site has good resource.
Go to www.scholastic.com and under the Teacher Tab, you can find "Book Wizard". You can search DRA level of a book (or Grade level). I'm using this tool to evaluate my kid reading progress and select a book to buy.
Normally, Kindergarten reading target is DRA 4, but average reading level of my kid class is far higher than that.
p_jesten
p_jesten June 11, 2009
This is exactly what the letter says...

The DRA2 WA is used by FFX County Public Schools to document kindergarten students' progress. This assessment measures a variety of beginning reading skills, such as rhyming, letter recognition, and letter sound correspondence.

Your child's DRA WA fall score was 130 and your childs spring score is 186.

I am now even MORE confused...
bevo1970
bevo1970 June 11, 2009
I am not sure what the score of 130 or 189 means as that is not part of a DRA assessment. The DRA (Diagnostic Reading Assessment), is scored with a beginning level A, 2,3,4,6,8 and 10. A Kindergarten student usually leaves going into first grade with a 4 or 6. (At my school, the goal is level 6 or 8). This test consists of your child reading a leveled reader aloud with the teacher marking any miscues, etc.. Then, your child is asked questions about the reading. Depending on the oral reading and comprehension a level is determined. These levels are not always perfect, but usually are not off by much. A qualified teacher is able to determine the proper DRA level and this is used for guided reading within a classroom. Remember, this is one of many assessments to use when determining the overall reading ability of a student.
Hope this helps.
p_jesten
p_jesten June 11, 2009
am positive, at the beginning of kindergarten, he had a score of 130 and was on DRA 2/3 - and then they forgot about him until March, and then he started getting new books again, but NEVER got off of that level. And at the end of school he had a score of 189. His score did not change - at all - IMO. Most kids in his class their scores tripled, granted they were much lover at the beginning.

This is my first experience with the FFX county school system, and I just do not want this to happen again. It just makes me sick by what happened. I will catch him up over the Summer and so what my school failed to do. And most of the kids in his class are at 4 or 5, and some of them are at 7.

Horrible things run through my head about why this happened, but I try to squash my fears about bigotry...ya know. Any help you can give me would be appreciated and will help me prepare for the meeting I have with the principal when school ends. Sorry for the rant. :)
p_jesten
p_jesten June 11, 2009
deleted cuz posted twisce
bevo1970
bevo1970 June 11, 2009
Are you sure your child was given a DRA test score in Kindergarten? It usually isn't done until the end of the school year to get an assessment of your child's reading level at the end of kindergarten - going into first grade.
What were the scores? Knowing the scores I can give you more information as to the level of your child. Most students leaving K are at a level 4 or 6 going into first grade.

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