Gifted Issues Discussion homepage Forums Parenting and Advocacy DRA Reading help

Thanks so so so much Polarbear! That is exactly how I am going to handle it. Unfortunately, so far, the DRA levels are pretty meaningful at DS's school at least at this point. Otherwise, DS wouldn't be as bothered (and nor would I). They use the levels to group the kids reading groups. They also use the levels to determine what books they are permitted to read and what the corresponding 100 book challenge level is. Past posts of mine show this is a MAJOR issue as they are real sticklers about making the kids only read books on "their just right level." I am mostly concerned about the instructional.

The principal emailed me and said someone would get back to me with dates for the meeting ...but no one has yet. I haven't responded to that email yet because I wanted to hash it out here first. I didn't want to do anything in haste. But now I will respond and specifically request that they re-test him before the conference.

DD's third grade teacher made the entire class read Boxcar Children books for the first 6+ weeks of school. DD read the first one in a couple days, so she went onto book #2, then #3, then 4, etc. Meanwhile other kids were still on #1. Would it really have been hard for the teacher to tell her "Ok, choose whatever you want now" after Boxcar #1? Talk about a wasted 6 weeks! The teacher knew that some kids were beyond that level, and that it was TOO HARD for other kids (there are at least two kids in her class who still can't read at all), but still, everyone had to read (or try to read) Boxcar Children books. I can see this for the first few days if she was in the process of assessing people, but 6+ weeks?

Hopefully your meeting goes well, let us know.

Update: So I never actually responded the principal's last email saying they would get back to me with dates for a conference. We were hit with a crisis here (really times consuming, stressful distraction that still has not ended) and I just dropped the ball. Anyway, I was about to email on Monday and then DS came home and said he was pulled out by the 4th grade reading teacher and given an hour's worth of reading tests. He said one seemed like the DRA and some were not. I goggled the book that he thought was DRA and it is the next level up. Not sure what they are up to but they did this last time before moving him up. So I guess this is good. I just want him at the right level starting next year... I have learned my lesson that when DS is not at the right level of challenge there is hell to pay.

well that sounds like a positive step in the right direction Irena
... perhaps his teacher is not "qualified"/ "allowed to" do the higher level testing and so she was just going with what she had at her disposal? (just a summation on my part)

either way - that sounds promising for your little guy

I suspect this may be the case. Interesting, though, that if I don't say something they'll just stop and leave him at the same level.