DRA Reminders (summarized from Sue M).
- Classroom teachers are the ones who are to be administering the DRAs
- Testing should continue until an accurate reading level is obtained (even if this is above grade level). The purpose of the DRA is to determine the reading level of the student and report that accurately to parents.
- If a student is reading at a DRA 28 or above--no matter what the grade level--it is expected that the writing portion of the assessment is administered and scored accordingly.
- ELL Guidelines - See below. Remember, they will have to be able to complete the writing portion for levelse 28 and higher.
- Repeated Substitutions: If an ELL student makes an error (e.g., run for ran) and then substitutes this word repeatedly, it will count as one error and a note will be made with regard to this error so it can be worked on, but it will not be counted each time the error is made. This is a developmental language acquisition issue.
- Substitutions involving contractions will not count as an error with an ELL student if their substitution indicates meaning. Examples: I will for I’ll or I’ll for I will.
- The substitution of a proper name (e.g., Mary for Molly) is counted as an error only the first time.
- Student leaves off “s” at the end of a word, counted 1 time as an error only the first time and then is noted for future instruction
- Student mispronounces “ed” ending. This is counted the first time as an error and then is noted for future instruction.
- Words mispronounced due to sounds not found in the student’s first language or mispronounced due to their language dialect may be coded but are not counted as errors. Example: Instead of “th” sound student pronounces “th” like a “d” or “z”.