Variety in Literacy Framework and Assessments

Readings:
Catching Readers Before They Fall: Ch. 5 A Comprehensive Literacy Framework by Johnson/Keier
Catching Readers Before They Fall: Ch. 10 Assessment by Johnson/Keier

Chapter 5 of Catching Readers Before They Fall covers the many different aspects involved in a "comprehensive literacy framework."  In short, it discussed the importance hitting reading and literacy from many different angles.  This part of the book reminded me of the Daily Five.  It all revolved around reading, but sometimes there was reading alone, sometimes reading with other students, sometimes reading with the teacher, and sometimes just having the teacher read to the students.  This system bypasses all of the extra reading tasks that Allington hates so much.  However, it still uses different methods to give students variety and also target different aspects of reading.  There is writing involved too.  This can also be done individually or as a group.  I particularly liked the example of group writing in the book.  Letting students work together but also show off there strengths will help them gain confidence, as well as help the teacher identify each students' strengths and weaknesses.

The chapter on assessment tied in nicely, again discussing the importance of variation.  I agree with the fact that although standardized type tests certainly have a place in our educational system, it is not the place that they are currently in.  Some students excel at tests, but others flounder.  Stress and anxiety can massively affect student performance.  Students with different learning styles show their knowledge best in different ways.  Giving all students the same test is like teaching all of them the same thing, which we have already decided is not the best idea.  I like that the book provided many methods of evaluation to use, especially since reading is a difficult trait to evaluate by exam.  I especially appreciated the two profiles of different students, Edward and Hannah.  This is the perfect way to show that two students require two very different methods of evaluation, assessment, and assistance.

Each student is different, meaning that they would, in a perfect world, have their own individualized education plan.  Unfortunately, we do not have the resources to do this.  The best that we can do is offer options in every aspect possible, including methods of reading/literacy instruction and especially assessment.