Two studies were conducted to investigate the use of a technique for providing a grade-level interpretation for cloze readability scores. In the first study, Bormuth's cloze-test criteria were compared with the results of the Fry and Dale-Chall readability formulae. A total of 133 students in grades 4 to 8 were required to read a 250-word passage…

Diagnosis, as applied to reading, is defined as a systematic and rational explanation of an individual's inability to make anticipated progress in learning to read. And, it is noted that diagnosis can be made at four levels: (1) identification of difficulty, (2) classification of disability, (3) determination of specific reading needs, and (4)…

This paper discusses several evaluative methods that are available for use in a reading program that is aimed at English as a Second Language (ESL) students. The contents include: "Evaluation," which discusses the role of evaluation in reading; "Teacher Observation," which looks at how the teacher can evaluate the reading progress of students…

Reviews the fifth edition of the Classroom Reading Inventory (CRI), which contains four forms of the inventory and two graded spelling surveys. Concludes that although there are problems in the fifth edition, there is much that is good, especially the helpful hints section for the novice examiner. (SKC)

Finds a number of problems with the test and concludes that there is little real advantage to using it in preference to other published informal reading inventories now available. (FL)

To determine quality sequence in pupil progress, evaluation approaches need to be used which guide the teacher to assist learners to attain optimally. Teachers must use a variety of procedures to appraise student achievement in reading, because no one approach is adequate. Appraisal approaches might include: (1) observation and subsequent…

This report addresses how reading comprehension can be assessed when children have limited decoding skills. Successful teachers use reading assessments for many purposes. A Center for the Improvement of Early Reading Achievement (CIERA) survey of 496 teachers in "beat the odds" schools revealed that they use many informal reading tasks to assess…

Argues that interest is as potent a factor in reading comprehension as is difficulty, calling for a serious reconsideration and revision of both the philosophy and strategy of the Informal Reading Inventory. (RB)

Summarizes P. A. Killgallon's 1942 study that helped to establish the criteria for the instructional reading level, examines W. R. Powell's 1970 critique of that study, and presents concerns about Powell's study. (FL)

Suggests using readability formulas, a skills inventory, an introspective report, and diagnostic approaches based on models of comprehension as informal evaluations of students' content reading ability. (MKM)

The paper examines two general methods of scoring oral reading inventories employing textual passages. Either the total number of oral alterations can be used as an index to reading ability, or only those alterations that disrupt the semantic structure of the text can be used. (Author)

Presents two classroom activities designed to get students' questions without stress and to use journals for content area comprehension. Discusses informal reading inventories and the consensus model of reading. (RS)

Argues that informal reading inventories (IRI) and the cloze procedure may provide inaccurate information and inhibit the progress of poor readers. Examines the concept of frustration level in both IRI and cloze testing. Posits that, in attempting to avoid frustrating students, educators fail to provide students with sufficient challenges.…

Contains part of the Keefe Inventory of Silent Reading, a silent informal reading inventory. Presents a case study of a student to whom it was administered, including analysis of this individual's reading ability and description of the specific strategies used with this individual on the basis of the results of the inventory. (RS)

Reports on available and forthcoming computer software packages for reading assessment, in the areas of informal reading inventories, comprehensive assessment packages for decoding, an open-ended test generation program, diagnostic simulation, and expert systems. Offers ideas for learning about assessment techniques. (SR)