DS6, Ist Grade has a DRA score of 44. I'm not sure what to make of this. He's a Math kid and although he can read is not particularly interested in books unless they cover a topic he likes. Can this score be inflated sometimes?
I haven't been able to find much info on DRA scores. Level 44 is the highest DRA level so it sounds like he's hit the ceiling.
http://studata.sandi.net/assessment/DRA_FAQ.aspWhat reading tests does his school administer to children in higher grades and can he be tested on those instead of DRA? I think that info would be more useful in determining his level.
DRA is reading level. Level A is prereading. Then, there are numbered levels, mostly even numbers but not every number. For example, A, 1, 2, 4. When they get up to about 20, they're every 4 numbers for a while, then they go up by 10's after a certain point. A 44 is not the maximum score, but it may be as high as the school in that particular link tests.
At our school, a first grader is considered on grade level if his/her score is in the 10's or close to it (at least an 8). Beginning second graders should be in the 20's, 3rd graders in the 30's, etc. That would put the OP's child at reading on a 4th grade level. That score includes both reading the words and comprehension. The score may be a little "inflated" because the test is somewhat subjective, but he's still reading several years above grade level.
DRA scores ceiling out at 3rd grade for the first test and then there is a second test that covers 4-6. If your child reads above the ceiling level there is no way to tell how much beyond unless they give him the next level test up. Of course if he still ceilings than a different test would be required to determine his level. I do think these tests are not as difficult to score well on as other achievement tests but it can be frustrating when your child ceilings as it gives you little information.
Thanks all. I'm not sure what the next test up is - will have to find out, though I'm mostly just surprised that he scored so high in this area.
a 44 is really great for a 6 year old! i had third graders who didn't read at a 44, and they were on target! it would be difficult to be inflated....he'd have to read the book fluently with very few mistakes and comprehend what he read to "pass" that level.
i now homeschool my 6 year old (who is bright, but not gifted), and he is a dra 14 right now. this is REALLY great for the beginning of first grade...so your child must be a phenomenal reader!
My son is also in 1st grade, has a DRA level of 44 and reading a-z level of U/V. I was told that 44 was the highest the test goes as well. They don't test the kids' reading level after 4th grade and according to his teacher, DRA 44 is the end of 4th grade reading level. This matches up with what he prefers to read at home as well. I don't think it can be overinflated because they have a fluency test and a comprehension test that is part of the higher levels for DRA testing.
I am a first grade teacher and a DRA level of 44 is impressive for several reasons. The test has a few components. The child must first be able to read at an appropriate rate of speed with very few errors (they are timed). This part is the easy part (in my opinion) for early advanced readers. Many can read quickly and accurately with expression. In order to pass the test, though, the child must also provide a written summary with very little scaffolding. This is quite difficult, as many early advanced readers do not have the fine motor to write such a lengthy summary and have trouble synthesizing information in such a way as to produce a coherent summary in the first place. Finally, to pass the advanced level DRAs, students must be able to interpret and analyze the text. They are asked questions like, "What is the author's message in the story?" or "What is the most important event that took place in the story and why?" This is VERY hard for many young readers, again, for the reasons I mentioned above. If your 6 year old was able to pass all three components of the DRA level 44 then it would be very impressive. Even with my very gifted kids they often have trouble with the written summary and text analysis. We have had conversations in our school about how to use the DRA with early advanced readers.
My son's teacher allows him to answer the questions for the comprehension section orally and the teacher takes notes on the answer. He does have to answer the exact question like you have stated. Last week he also had to answer "How do you believe the ending would have changed if ___ had happened first?" and "Explain the character traits of __ and how it is relevant to the story."
I thought those were extremely difficult questions for a 4th grader, let alone a 1st grader! I do appreciate that he is allowed to answer orally because while his reading is comfortably at 4th grade, his handwriting is clearly 1st grade. He would not have been able to provide the depth and detail in his answer if he had to write it. He'd likely write "I don't know" so that he could be done fast!
Well, looking at all of this I'm even more surprised at DS's score. I'm pretty certain that they must have allowed him to answer orally, and I don't know, maybe the subject matter was interesting to him - that could have made a huge difference, as he can be very particular about what is worth doing!
Could someone elaborate on the difference between DRA1 and DRA2?
I understand the ceiling for DRA2 is 40? Thanks in advance, my girls receive scores for both and I'm curious what the difference is.
This link has a good chart with the differences
http://www.sde.ct.gov/sde/lib/sde/word_docs/curriculum/psd/DRA_Q_and_A_EDITED_10_08.doc 1. What are the DRA1 and DRA2?
The Developmental Reading Assessment (DRA) is an individual reading assessment designed to assess students� reading performance in Grades K-3 and Grades 4-8. A second edition of the DRA has been developed. The DRA2 adds new fiction and nonfiction benchmark assessment books, replaces and revises some of the original benchmark assessment books and modifies the assessment procedures for transitional and extending readers so there is a smoother transition between the DRA2, Grades K-3, and DRA2, Grades 4-8.
My school does not allow children to answer orally. This is the reason that even a PG student I had last year was not able to score beyond a level 30 at the end of 1st grade. I do not agree with our school (and district's) decision to follow the DRA scoring criteria to the letter, but it certainly doesn't impact my teaching instruction in the classroom. It only affects the score that I can report for district and state purposes.
Yes, you are right. The lower levels DO allow oral retelling. But once you get beyond a certain level (I'm thinking 26 or so?) the retell is written. We have the same standard for where to stop testing, but I always test further b/c I think it's ridiculous! For example, I had a child last year who in mid-first grade could not test beyond level 26 on the DRA. When tested with the WJ the gifted coordinator at our school told me that he was reading at a fifth grade level (comprehension) and decoding was middle school level. That gave me more information than the DRA although I did learn through the DRA that he was having trouble sythesizing information and analyzing text so that was what we were working on in class.
DS's school only uses DRA for reading group placement. It's not required by our district. I'm suddenly feeling very lucky since he has been allowed to read as far as he can. I do not understand why the DRA2 would put limits on it. The chart Inky posted says that a child should not be allowed to read more than one year above grade level. Does anyone know what the rationale would even be for that?
This may provide a partial answer but it's one I don't like.
onegradelevel Joetta Beaver states in the DRA2 kit, �Students who are reading above grade level should read no more than one grade level above their present grade.� Therefore, when administering the assessment, a student will not need to be assessed beyond one grade level above where he/she is. Meaning, it is the beginning of the year for a 1st grade students. He reads at a level 18 with at least 94% text accuracy and adequate comprehension. The teacher will not need to continue the assessment for that student. She has the information she needs in planning for instruction. More information about this student will be determined from independent reading conferences.
Personally, I don't like the idea of setting an artificial testing limit because it seems to go against the process for developing talent. It also goes against the supposed purpose of the DRA to identify students' reading level.
P.S. These answers makes me a little less mad, but just a little.
http://www.lcps.k12.nm.us/departments/Prof_Dev/literacy/faq_Elementary_Literacy.docThe DRA should not be given more than one grade level above. The recommendation is that students explore a variety of genres of literature and attention is given to more critical thinking at the level above rather than continuing to go to higher levels.
# Do you suggest a ceiling and only test one grade level above?
A: In general, it is usually recommended that students not be assessed with texts that are more than one grade level above the students' current grade level. The reason for this is that DRA is designed to guide teacher instruction and students who are truly successful and independent one year above grade level are making it. For students reading above grade level, text levels become less significant. These students should be selecting texts across levels to meet their varied purposes for reading. Keeping in mind that it is important not to get runaway DRA scores where the student is NOT solidly achieving in both oral reading fluency and comprehension.
Okay, gotta say that's just dumb.
My son is in 1st grade. He is not going to read a 2nd grade text for fiction happily. He gets bored with the repetition, the "said Jack" over and over (to quote Magic Treehouse, the worst offender of this!) and the general contained plot. He will occasionally use a 2nd grade identified text for nonfiction but it's as a starter book to get into a topic, not the whole topic. His critical thinking skills are seriously hampered by a slow developing story that doesn't allow for discussions of metaphors, plot, character traits etc.
It sounds like DRA, as designed, is for the teacher to plan instruction for the middle. I'm happy that our school isn't using it that way!
Just my 2 cents but the DRA is an awful tool. My dd was an early advanced reader. She was writing book reports on 2nd and 3rd grade level books in kindy but somehow when she got to first grade and they used the DRA she could not score beyond 16 in the beginning of the year. The school will test up to 28 but at the end of the year and low and behold that was how much improvement she made. Hmmmm what a miracle. Now the school has started the DRA testing in kindy and my younger scored 14 at the end of kindy - sounds about right. At that time she was probably reading at a mid first grade level. Over the summer she completely blossomed and her reading skills have grown by leaps and bounds. Well what do you know her DRA score in first grade is an 8. Somehow she managed to go backwards. Sorry but from my experience it is complete hooey and used only because the school can assign concrete numbers to reading and show concrete progress.
Wow. What a confusing test! I hope it helps the teachers, because it certainly leaves me confused. I'm now beginning to think it might be closer to DSs level than I originally thought. In school he has no set reading book to bring home, just free choice from the library. At home, although not a keen fiction reader, he really seems to be taking an interest in fiction at last - thanks to Roald Dahl. We've been going through his books from the Enormous Crocodile up to now, Matilda -and with all the humor he loves them. He reads Matilda to me almost without error, and laughs out loud over the funny parts. If he had the chance to read something he found truely interesting, fiction or non-fiction in the test, I suspect he could have reached the score. Not with the writing part though - that I find strange. DS's score was posted both on his 'conference' report, and official school report. It is a bit strange that they would not follow the test precisely, and then have recorded it in this way.
When she got to where she could write her summaries, her teacher congratulated herself for the tremendous improvement in comprehension.
Since I don't have a "smiley face rolling my eyes" icon, I'll have to go with this...
Lulu,
I think you did get an accurate level from the DRA. Kudos to your teacher for recognizing your child's ability and understanding the limits and proper use of the tool.
Master of None,
Sounds like we had the same experiences. I have a friend going through a similar issue as well. It is very upsetting. Oh well, this too shall pass.
Out gifted teacher discreetly pointed out that my son's lower DRA score was to make it easier to show improvement as the year progresses. Manipulating data , now who would do that?
I'm shocked
I'm not. As a teacher I recognize the unreasonable pressure to show/demonstrate growth/improvement. set a low baseline easier to get improvement. It is all part of a giant game.
I am looking to get my first grade daughter tested independently outside of the school for reading as I was not convinced on the DRA assessment she got from her school. Fairfax County so I am not sure if it is possible to find someone who administer DRA independently but if not heard that there are other reading tests that can be used by, testers independently and provide a corresponding DRA level. So I wanted to check with you if you know anyone who could provide the test independently.