Hi Parents!
You've received (in the Thursday Folder) your child's DRA score along with a conversion chart. I've sent this home because some parents like to know what level books to be reading at home (and encouraging their child to read on his or her own). The system that we use at McKinley is called the DRA (Developmental Reading Assessment). This couldn't be FURTHER from a high-stakes test. We use it privately to guide our teaching and demonstrate growth over time in first grade. The 'normal' range for 1st grade starts at 3 and ends the year at 16, but 'normal' is rather abnormal here. Rest assured we have many students that arrive below three and many that end the year above 30. I like to see a year's progress (or more) from students regardless of where they start.
PLEASE, please, please make reading fun at your home. Sit together, snuggle up, and make reading a relaxing time. I most hope that your child associates reading with quality, loving mom-time, dad-time or grandparent-time. I can help your child develop skills, but you are the one that can teach your child to love to read. If your child doesn't want to read, you do the reading! Trade reading pages, read together, and be silly about words (if you make errors on purpose that you know your child can catch, you'll draw them in like a magnet!). Make it fun.
The DRA number is in column #9 below. The rest of the chart might help you find a book at the library or Barnes & Noble, if the publisher uses a different system than I do -- many books use Grade Level Equivalent or Lexile. Just follow the chart across.
-Mr. Kane
You've received (in the Thursday Folder) your child's DRA score along with a conversion chart. I've sent this home because some parents like to know what level books to be reading at home (and encouraging their child to read on his or her own). The system that we use at McKinley is called the DRA (Developmental Reading Assessment). This couldn't be FURTHER from a high-stakes test. We use it privately to guide our teaching and demonstrate growth over time in first grade. The 'normal' range for 1st grade starts at 3 and ends the year at 16, but 'normal' is rather abnormal here. Rest assured we have many students that arrive below three and many that end the year above 30. I like to see a year's progress (or more) from students regardless of where they start.
PLEASE, please, please make reading fun at your home. Sit together, snuggle up, and make reading a relaxing time. I most hope that your child associates reading with quality, loving mom-time, dad-time or grandparent-time. I can help your child develop skills, but you are the one that can teach your child to love to read. If your child doesn't want to read, you do the reading! Trade reading pages, read together, and be silly about words (if you make errors on purpose that you know your child can catch, you'll draw them in like a magnet!). Make it fun.
The DRA number is in column #9 below. The rest of the chart might help you find a book at the library or Barnes & Noble, if the publisher uses a different system than I do -- many books use Grade Level Equivalent or Lexile. Just follow the chart across.
-Mr. Kane
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