Quality Indicator Review and Resource Guides for Literacy
The State Education Department
The University of the State of New York
Albany, NY 12234
Office of P-12 Education
Office of Special Education
Quality Indicator Review and Resource Guides
for Literacy - Updated August 2014 - PDF (871 KB)
- Systemic Support
- Early Literacy Instructional Practice
- Adolescent Literacy (Middle Level)
- Adolescent Literacy (High School)
- Specially Designed and Intensive Reading for Students with Disabilities
The Regional Special Education Technical Assistance Support Center (RSE-TASC) network is one of the New York State Education Department’s (NYSED) primary resources for school improvement in New York State. This Quality Indicator Review and Resource Guide is one of a series that has been developed for use by the RSE-TASC network to guide their work in assessment of programs and provision of professional development, support and technical assistance to districts and schools to improve results for students with disabilities.
The Guides are intended to be used to support a process that includes:
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Assessing the quality of a school district’s instructional programs and practices in the areas of literacy, behavioral supports and interventions; and delivery of special education services;
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Determining priority need areas; and
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Prescribing and planning activities to change practices and improve outcomes for students with disabilities.
NYSED gratefully acknowledges
participation of the following individuals in the development of these
documents:
Current Literacy Work Group
Marcia Atwood, SESIS, Questar III BOCES
Michele Boutwell, SESIS, Erie II BOCES
Christina Cloidt, SESIS, Ulster County BOCES
Lynn Gallo, SESIS, Otsego Northern Catskill BOCES
Teri Marks, SESIS, Oswego BOCES
Rae Lynn McCarthy, SESIS, Genesee Valley BOCES
Queenie Nichols, SESIS, Oswego BOCES
Patricia Schwetz, SESIS, Nassau BOCES
Susan Locke-Scott, RSE-TASC Coordinator, Erie I BOCES
Cindy Bishop, SETRC, Ulster BOCES
Helene Bradley, SETRC, New York City Department of Education
Naomi Gershman, SESIS, Nassau BOCES
Sharon Hance, SETRC, Erie I BOCES
Karen Howard, SETRC, Onondaga-Cortland Madison BOCES
Pat Krueger, SETRC, Rochester City School District
Bambi Levine, SETRC, New York City DOE
Laurie Levine, Regional SETRC, Rockland BOCES
Barbara Miller, NYSED/Office of Special Education
Sue Woodworth, NYSED/Office of Special Education
Lori Strong, Ph.D., The College of St Rose
James P. DeLorenzo
Assistant Commissioner of Special Education
NYSED
Patricia J. Geary
Coordinator, Special Education Policy and Professional Development
NYSED
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This document contains hypertext links or pointers to information
created and maintained by other public and private organizations. These
links and pointers are provided for the user's convenience. The Education
Department does not control or guarantee the accuracy, relevance, timeliness,
or completeness of this outside information. Further, the inclusion
of links or pointers to particular items in hypertext is not intended
to reflect their importance, nor is it intended to endorse any views
expressed, or products or services offered, on these outside sites,
or the organizations sponsoring the sites.
The State Education Department grants permission to New York State public schools, approved private schools and nonprofit organizations to copy this for use as a review and quality improvement guide. This material may not otherwise be reproduced in any form or by any means or modified without the written permission of the New York State Education Department. For further information, contact the Office of Special Education at (518) 473-2878 or write to Office of Special Education, 89 Washington Avenue, Room 309 EB, Albany, New York 12234.
Quality Indicator Review and Resourse Guide
Literacy: Systemic Support
Key Questions:
- How does district leadership maintain coherence among established goals, policies, and daily practices across all buildings?
- How do building principals use a variety of needs assessments, walk throughs, focus groups, achievement data, and perceptual information to guide ongoing improvement of a comprehensive literacy program?
Indicator: Systemic Support | ||
Component: Leadership | ||
Quality Indicators | Look For | Comments/Evidence |
There is evidence that:
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- Coherence as defined by Webster means "having the quality of holding together as a firm mass" and "logically consistent". A reference to educational coherence can be found at: http://www.eric.ed.gov/ERICDocs/data/ericdocs2sql/content_storage_01/0000019b/80/13/f9/a9.pdf
- Leader Walk Throughs is a brief, structured, nonevaluative classroom observation by the principal that is followed by a conversation between the principal and the teacher about what was observed A source for information: http://kwhobbes.wordpress.com/tag/walk-through/
- Mentoring is defined as the establishment of
a personal relationship for the purpose of professional instruction
and guidance. A source of information: http://www.ericdigests.org/pre-924/mentoring.htm
- Peer Coachingis defined as a confidential process through which teachers share their expertise and provide one another with feedback, support, and assistance for the purpose of refining present skills, learning new skills, and/or solving classroom-related problems (Dalton and Moir, 1991). A source of information:http://www.ncela.gwu.edu/pubs/directions/03.htm
Key Questions:
- How are professional development needs of staff members determined and addressed in order to ensure effective literacy programs?
- How are data driven professional development activities conducted as a comprehensive and coordinated effort?
Indicator: Systemic Support | ||
Component: Professional Development (PD) | ||
Quality Indicators | Look For | Comments/Evidence |
There is evidence that:
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- Demonstration Lessons aim to help teachers actually see what it looks like to teach in particular ways. They may focus on how the teacher identifies and addresses students’ prior conceptions or on the questions a teacher asks of students as they explain how they solved a mathematics or science problem.
- Differentiated instruction is defined as a process to approach teaching and learning for students of differing abilities in the same class. The intent of differentiating instruction is to maximize each student’s growth and individual success by meeting each student where he or she is, and assisting in the learning process. A source is: http://www.cast.org/publications/ncac/ncac_diffinstruc.html
.
- Professional Leaning Community is defined as a collegial group of administrators and school staff who are united in their commitment to student learning. They share a vision, work and learn collaboratively, visit and review other classrooms, and participate in decision making (Hord, 1997b). A source for this is: http://www.ncrel.org/sdrs/areas/issues/content/currclum/cu3lk22.htm
.
- Evaluating Professional Development http://www.ascd.org
- Study Group is defined as consisting of no more than six individuals who can work effectively to plan common or connected instructional units, propose school-improvement measures, and research new instructional and learning techniques. A source is: http://www.ncrel.org/sdrs/areas/issues/educatrs/profdevl/pd2study.htm.
Key Questions:
- How are data from formative and summative assessments used to plan for interventions and monitor student outcomes?
- How are data from formative and summative assessments used to plan for and improve literacy programs?
Indicator:Systemic Support | ||
Component:Formative and Summative Assessments | ||
Quality Indicators | Look For | Comments/Evidence |
There is evidence that:
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- Disaggregated data simply means looking at test
scores by specific subgroups of students. A source is: http://www.schoolboarddata.org/chapter_three/disaggregated_data.pdf
- Formative Assessment is often done at the beginning or during a program, thus providing the opportunity for immediate evidence for student learning in a particular course or at a particular point in a program. A source: http://edglossary.org/formative-assessment/
- Instructional Support Teams (IST) are defined
as interdisciplinary problem solving teams that assist in the determination
of intervention plans for students. Sources are: http://www.childadvocate.net/instructional_support.htm
and http://www.interventioncentral.com/
- Learning trajectories are defined as a path, progression, or line of development of student learning.
- Summative assessment is comprehensive in nature,
provides accountability and is used to check the level of learning
at the end of the program. A source is: http://edglossary.org/summative-assessment/
- Visual displays of data are vital representations
of student progress over time. Charts and graphs kept on an ongoing
basis can assist in determining the effectiveness of instruction and
intervention. A source for charting tools: http://www.interventioncentral.com/
- Progress monitoring https://www.osepideasthatwork.org/toolkit/ta_science_based_research.asp
Key Questions:
- How are the literacy needs of students with disabilities clearly communicated to all involved parties?
- How do we communicate about students with disabilities' literacy progress and needs?
Indicator: Systemic Support | ||
Component: Communication | ||
Quality Indicators | Look For | Comments/Evidence |
There is evidence that:
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- Co-teaching team is defined as a general education and special education teacher that work together to teach a heterogeneous group of students some of whom have disabilities. A source is: http://www.specialconnections.ku.edu/?q=collaboration/cooperative_teaching
- Intervention plans should clearly identify procedures and instructional strategies to be used for students that have been referred to a problem solving team at a school. Arrangements such as where and when the plan will be implemented and the materials needed to carry out the plan should be delineated. Persons responsible for all aspects of the plan are identified. It is essential that this plan is written and available to all individuals involved in the implementation of the plan.
Key Questions:
- How are multiple stakeholders included in the design, evaluation and revisions of the district’s literacy programs?
- What systems are in place to assure that research based practices are used consistently in the delivery of quality literacy programs?
Indicator: Systemic Support | ||
Component: Program Development | ||
Quality Indicators | Look For | Comments/Evidence |
There is evidence that:
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Multiple measurements – You must guide teams to look at different types of data that is typically broken down into demographic, perception, school processes and student learning. We must consider the context, culture, conditions and competencies in each area. Additional information can be found at http://eff.csuchico.edu/Downloads/MMeasure.pdf
Key Questions:
- What evidence exists that technology programs/devices are consistently available to support struggling learners?
- What evidence exists that students are working toward their goals through using a variety of tools and media?
Indicator: Systemic Support | ||
Component: Universal Design for Learning | ||
Quality Indicators | Look For | Comments/Evidence |
There is evidence that:
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- Assistive Technology commonly refers to "...products, devices or equipment, whether acquired commercially, modified or customized, that are used to maintain, increase or improve the functional capabilities of individuals with disabilities...", according to the definition proposed in the Assistive Technology Act of 1998. A source is: http://www.rehabtool.com/forum/discussions/1.html.
- Universal Design for Learning is defined by CAST as: UDL provides a blueprint for creating flexible goals, methods, materials, and assessments that accommodate learner differences.” Universal" does not imply a single optimal solution for everyone. Instead, it is meant to underscore the need for multiple approaches to meet the needs of diverse learners. UDL mirrors the universal design movement in architecture and product development. Think of speakerphones, curb cuts, and close-captioned television—all universally designed to accommodate a wide variety of users, including those with disabilities. Embedded features that help those with disabilities eventually benefit everyone. UDL uses technology's power and flexibility to make education more inclusive and effective for all. A source is: http://www.cast.org/research/udl/index.html.
Quality Indicator Review and Resourse Guide
Literacy: Early Literacy
Key Questions:
- What is the sequence of phonological awareness skills identified in the curriculum?
- What portion of the instructional block is dedicated to the development of phonological awareness?
Indicator: Early Literacy | ||
Component: Phonological Awareness | ||
Quality Indicators | Look For | Comments/Evidence |
There is evidence that:
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- Phonological Awareness focuses on recognizing and manipulating phonemes as it relates to speech sounds. A good site for understanding and ideas is: http://www.phonologicalawareness.org/
.
- Corrective feedback is used during reading instruction and intervention to identify errors, provide additional instruction, and allow the student to develop internal thinking skills to utilize when reading independently. The process is meant to be dynamic and student focused. A link of interest is: http://www.carla.umn.edu/cobaltt/modules/strategies/c_feedback.pdf
.
- Phonemic Awareness is a reader's ability to recognize that spoken language is made up of a series of individual sounds.
- Think Aloud is a reading strategy wherein the teacher explicitly models the thinking skills being used as a test is approached. A sample lesson plan can be found at: http://www.readwritethink.org/lessons/lesson_view.asp?id=139
.
- Phoneme is the smallest contrastive unit in the sound system of a language.
- Elkonin boxes are an instructional tool to assist children in understanding the segmenting and blending of phonemes. For a better understanding and example of their use see: http://bogglesworldesl.com/elkonin_boxes.htm
.
Key Questions:
- How are word attack skills taught and practiced?
- What scope and sequence is used to teach the phonetic elements of the English language?
Indicator: Early Literacy | ||
Component: Phonics | ||
Quality Indicators | Look For | Comments/Evidence |
There is evidence that:
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- Decoding readers use their knowledge of letter-sound relationships to identify words. Decoding is automatic for good readers who identify most words rapidly, even good readers use decoding skills with unfamiliar word. http://childparenting.about.com/od/schoollearning/a/decoding-skills-def.htm
- Orthographic or Orthography is a complete writing system for a language or languages. Orthographies include the representation of word boundaries, stops and pauses in speech, and tonal inflections. Source: http://www.sedl.org/reading/framework/glossary.html
- Phonics is the understanding that there is a pattern and relationship between the sounds (phonemes) of spoken language and the letters and spellings (graphemes) that represent those sounds in written text.
- Word Analysis or Word Study is an activity conducted during instructional reading time wherein the sounds and patterns learned during phonics instruction are utilized in reading words and text.
Key Questions:
- How much daily time is dedicated to the development of fluency during the instructional block?
- How is student fluency assessed, recorded, and monitored systematically at grade level and at the instructional level?
Indicator: Early Literacy | ||
Component: Fluency | ||
Quality Indicators | Look For | Comments/Evidence |
There is evidence that:
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- Fluency is the ability to read a text accurately and quickly. When fluent readers read silently, they recognize words automatically. They group words quickly to help them gain meaning from what they read. Fluent readers read aloud effortlessly and with expression. Their reading sounds natural, as if they are speaking. Fluency = Accuracy + Rate + Expression Sources:: http://www.scholastic.com/teachers/article/common-questions-about-fluency
and http://www.linkslearning.k12.wa.us/reading_links/readingmanuals/FLUENCYFACILITATOR.pdf
- Prosody is using the features of rhythm, intonation, and phrasing when reading.
- Repeated Reading is a strategy that involves student's reading a passage aloud or silently several times to improve fluency and correct errors. Related link: http://nichcy.org/research/summaries/abstract55
- Whisper reading is a fluency strategy wherein all students are reading/whispering aloud at their own rate. The teacher monitors by walking around and listening.
Key Questions:
- How many high utility vocabulary words are targeted for explicit instruction and practiced weekly?
- What strategies are students taught to construct meaning of unknown words while reading?
- How is vocabulary development assessed?
Indicator: Early Literacy | ||
Component: Vocabulary | ||
Quality Indicators | Look For | Comments/Evidence |
There is evidence that:
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- Direct vocabulary instruction refers to students learning vocabulary when they are explicitly taught both individual words and word-learning strategies. Direct vocabulary instruction aids reading comprehension.
- Vocabulary means the words we must know to communicate effectively http://www.readingrockets.org/reading-topics/vocabulary
.
- High Utility Words are words that are found often in print but not specific to content areas.
- Academic Vocabulary is the vocabulary that allows students to understand the concepts that are taught. A good site to understand this is http://www.u-46.org/roadmap/files/vocabulary/acadvoc-over.pdf
.
Key Questions:
- What portion of the instructional block is dedicated to explicitly teaching comprehension?
- How often and for how long during the instructional block do teachers planfully interact with students as they read?
Indicator: Early Literacy | ||
Component: Reading and Listening Comprehension | ||
Quality Indicators | Look For | Comments/Evidence |
There is evidence that:
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- Comprehension is understanding a text that is read, or the process of "constructing meaning" from a text. Comprehension is a "construction process" because it involves all of the elements of the reading process working together as a text is read to create a representation of the text in the reader's mind. http://www.readingrockets.org/reading-topics/reading-comprehension
- Idiomatic Language is defined as an expression that does not mean what it literally says. Hence, its meaning is often quite different from the word-for-word translation and this can impact a student's comprehension.
- Story Retell is a classroom based strategy to check and monitor student comprehension of materials read. Story retells consist of a series of open ended questions that the student responds to (e.g. What happened at the beginning of the story?).
- Think Aloud is a reading strategy wherein the teacher explicitly models the thinking skills being used as a text is approached. A sample lesson plan can be found at: http://www.readwritethink.org/lessons/lesson_view.asp?id=139
.
- QAR is a reading strategy in which students utilize where they found information to answer comprehension question and the relationship between the material read and the answer. A good site can be found at: http://www.readingeducator.com/strategies/qar.htm.
.
- Anchor Charts are posters or visual aids created and posted within classrooms to illustrate and/or remind students of a skill or strategy and its use.
- Dialogic Reading an interactive method of reading picture books in which the child becomes the storyteller with assistance from the adult. A good site to reference is http://ies.ed.gov/ncee/wwc/interventionreport.aspx?sid=135
and http://www.readingrockets.org/article/400
.
- Text Talk is a method in which young children talk about the text in order to improve comprehension and understand vocabulary. http://utah.ptfs.com/awweb/awarchive?type=file&item=28840
Key Questions:
- What portion of the instructional block is dedicated to daily writing?
- How much time is dedicated to explicitly teaching each writing strategy?
- How often are students required to express their ideas in written form across the curriculum?
Indicator: Early Literacy | ||
Component: Written Expression | ||
Quality Indicators | Look For | Comments/Evidence |
There is evidence that:
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- Cloze activities require students to read a passage with missing key words and use context to fill in the correct words. Some cloze activities have a word bank for students to select from and others require students to use their own vocabulary.
- Graphic Organizers are visual aids for organizing thoughts prior to writing.
- Mentor or anchor texts are student writing samples used as benchmarks, displaying rubric traits for a particular prompt. A separate set of anchor papers is needed for each writing prompt. Source: http://www.schoolworld.com/information/anchor-paper.htm
- Rubrics are a set of scoring guidelines for evaluating student work. A link to information and sample rubrics: http://www.teachersfirst.com/lessons/rubrics/index.cfm
- Word wall folders are portable, student specific versions of classroom word wall. Students can refer to the word wall folder when creating written work.
- Written expression refers to the understanding that what one thinks can be spoken and what is spoken can be written down.
Key Question:
How closely does spelling instruction of phonetically irregular and regular words follow the phonics scope and sequence?
Indicator: Early Literacy | ||
Component: Spelling | ||
Quality Indicators | Look For | Comments/Evidence |
There is evidence that:
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- Automaticity in reading and writing refers to the ability to recognize without expending cognitive energy on processing the individual letters or words.
- Practice Time - Strategies to practice spelling http://www.resourceroom.net/readspell/6waysspelling.pdf
or computer supports http://www.spellingcity.com
.
Key Questions:
- What handwriting program is used consistently throughout the district?
- How much time is dedicated to daily handwriting instruction and practice?
Indicator: Early Literacy | ||
Component: Handwriting | ||
Quality Indicators | Look For | Comments/Evidence |
There is evidence that:
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- Handwriting http://www.handwritinghelpforkids.com/expert.html
- Explicit instruction in handwriting from assessment through to planning, implementation and review is intentional. Resources http://www.sacsa.sa.edu.au/ATT/%7B21AB4BA7-0C50-4F6E-9600-2F699503E1E2%7D/4HSACAHandwriting.pdf
- Assessing handwriting by collecting and analyzing handwriting movements to teach and assess handwriting performance. Resources for handwriting http://www.peterson-handwriting.com/Publications/ResourceLibrary.html
Key Questions:
- How are assessments used to provide appropriate information to adjust instruction?
- What evidence indicates appropriate adjustments are made to instruction based on assessment results?
Indicator: Early Literacy | ||
Component: Progress Monitoring | ||
Quality Indicators | Look For | Comments/Evidence |
There is evidence that:
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- Informal assessments are not data driven but rather content and performance driven. Running records are informal assessments because they indicate how well a student is reading a specific book. Scores such as 10 correct out of 15, percent of words read correctly, and most rubric scores are informal. Additional resources http://www.paec.org/itrk3/files/pdfs/readingpdfs/cooltoolsall.pdf
- Curriculum-based assessment is direct observation and recording of a student's performance in the local curriculum as a basis for gathering information to make instructional decisions. Resources for CBM http://easycbm.com
- Student Intervention plans Individualized, targeted plans of action to address the identified weakness that includes specific strategies and progress monitoring data. Sample plan http://www.interventioncentral.org/tools/academic-intervention-planner-struggling-students
Quality Indicator Review and Resourse Guide
Literacy: Adolescent Literacy
Key Questions:
- How is skill development of students with disabilities assessed?
- In what ways do assessment results inform instruction?
Indicator: Adolescent Literacy (Grades 4-8) | ||
Component: Formative and Summative Assessment | ||
Quality Indicators | Look For | Comments/Evidence |
There is evidence that:
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- Formative assessment is often done at the beginning or during a program, thus providing the opportunity for immediate evidence for student learning in a particular course or at a particular point in a program. Classroom assessment is one of the most common formative assessment techniques. Source: http://edglossary.org/formative-assessment/
- Summative assessment is a process that concerns final evaluation to ask if the project or program met its goals. Typically the summative evaluation concentrates on learner outcomes rather than only the program of instruction. Source: http://e3t.weebly.com/uploads/1/0/5/2/1052598/summative_assessments_list1.pdf
- Rubrics are a set of scoring guidelines for evaluating student work. A link to information and sample rubrics: http://www.rubrics4teachers.com/
Key Questions:
- What tools are used to measure and monitor students’ baseline skills in vocabulary, spelling and phonics?
- How is the instruction of phonics, vocabulary and spelling integrated so it is meaningful for students with disabilities?
Indicator: Adolescent Literacy (Grades 4-8) | ||
Component: Word Study | ||
Quality Indicators | Look For | Comments/Evidence |
There is evidence that:
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- Word Study research based approach to teaching phonics, vocabulary and spelling. For further information see http://www.meadowscenter.org/library/resource/word-study-for-students-with-learning-disabilities-and-english-language-lea
Word Analysis is using the relationships between spelling and pronunciation at the letter, syllable, and word levels to figure out unfamiliar words https://lincs.ed.gov/readingprofiles/MC_Word_Analysis.htm - Word Consciousness is a curious and playful interaction with words. A student is word conscious when they are interested in words and gain enjoyment and satisfaction from using them well and from seeing or hearing them used well by others. http://www.textproject.org/frankly-freddy/word-findings-8/
Key Questions:
- How does the literacy program transition students with disabilities as they move from “learning to read” to “reading to learn”?
- What do teachers demonstrate and scaffold students’ application of comprehension strategies?
- How is vocabulary taught across the curriculum?
Indicator: Adolescent Literacy (Grades 4-8) | ||
Component: Comprehension | ||
Quality Indicators | Look For | Comments/Evidence |
There is evidence that:
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- Explicit feedback is used during reading instruction and intervention to identify errors, provide additional instruction, and allow the student to develop internal thinking skills to utilize when reading independently. The process is meant to be dynamic and student focused. A link of interest is: http://www.calhoun.k12.al.us/makes%20sense/Adobe%20Reader/DO%20NOT%20OPEN%20program%20files/Skill%20instruction/HOW%20to%20teach%20skills/During%20Tactics/SKILL%20Feedback.pdf
- Directed Reading Thinking Activity (DRTA) are lessons designed by teachers to engineer stopping and thinking points in a text. A source is: http://www.learningpt.org/literacy/adolescent/strategies/drta.php
- Metacognition literally means "big thinking." You are thinking about thinking. Questioning, visualizing, and synthesizing information are all ways that readers can examine their thinking process.
Scaffold or Scaffolded instruction means that during instruction, teachers assist and guide students so that they can read, learn, and respond to text in ways they may not be able to do without support. A source is: http://www.learner.org/channel/workshops/readingk2/front/keyterms3.html - Think Aloud is a reading strategy wherein the teacher explicitly models the thinking skills being used as a text is approached.
- Visual heuristics are learning aids with a graphic presentation. A definition can be found at: http://m-w.com/dictionary/heuristic
Key Questions:
- How are students’ word recognition and decoding accuracy measured prior to providing fluency instruction?
- How is fluency measured and monitored over time?
- How much daily instructional time is provided for fluency development?
Indicator: Adolescent Literacy (Grades 4-8) | ||
Component: Fluency | ||
Quality Indicators | Look For | Comments/Evidence |
There is evidence that:
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|
- Fluency is the ability to read a text accurately and quickly. When fluent readers read silently, they recognize words automatically. They group words quickly to help them gain meaning from what they read. Fluent readers read aloud effortlessly and with expression. Their reading sounds natural, as if they are speaking. Fluency = Accuracy + Rate + Expression Source: http://www.linkslearning.k12.wa.us/reading_links/readingmanuals/FLUENCYPARTICIPANT.pdf
- Prosody is using the features of rhythm, intonation, and phrasing when reading.
- Repeated Reading is a strategy that involves student's reading a passage aloud or silently several times to improve fluency and correct errors. Related Link: http://nichcy.org/research/summaries/abstract55
Key Questions:
- How is writing instruction purposeful, meaningful, and relevant to students with disabilities?
- How is writing integrated across the curriculum?
Indicator: Adolescent Literacy (Grades 4-8) | ||
Component: Writing | ||
Quality Indicators | Look For | Comments/Evidence |
There is evidence that:
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- Quick Writes are a literacy strategy designed to reflect on learning. This type of writing assignment can be use at the beginning, middle, or end of a lesson and takes three to five minutes. Short, open-ended questions are usually given.
- Rubrics are a set of scoring guidelines for evaluating student work. A link to information and sample rubrics: http://www.rubrics4teachers.com/
- Self regulation is the ability to assess affective, behavioral, and cognitive characteristics, strengths, and needs and apply strategies to make meaning. A source: http://www.ldonline.org/article/6207
- R.A.F.T. is a strategy in which students address role, audience, format, topic and use of a strong verb to plan their writing. The following are websites that can assist with this strategy. http://www.readwritethink.org/professional-development/strategy-guides/using-raft-writing-strategy-30625.html
Key Questions:
- What types of teaching aids (visual prompts, graphic organizers, reference charts, technology) are used to promote understanding, mastery of content, and generalization of skills?
- What strategies are used to promote content area vocabulary understanding?
- How is instruction in various structures of text taught across the curricula for students with disabilities?
Indicator: Adolescent Literacy (Grades 4-8) | ||
Component: Literacy Instruction Across the Curricula | ||
Quality Indicators | Look For | Comments/Evidence |
There is evidence that:
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- Heuristics are learning aids. A definition can be found at http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/heuristic
- Mnemonics are devices to help us remember (memory aide). They come in many varieties and flavors, and can aid memorization of many types of information. This section concentrates on mnemonics related to words and numbers.
- Text structure refers to the semantic and syntactic organizational arrangements used to present written information. A source is Text Structure Resources | Literacy Leader
- Bloom’s Taxonomy: is classifying thinking according to six cognitive levels. Examples of questions related to Bloom’s Taxonomy can be found at www.edselect.com/blooms.htm
.
Key Questions:
- What is the continuum of intensity of direct reading instruction for students with disabilities?
- How is instruction aligned across the curriculum to address students’ needs?
Indicator: Adolescent Literacy (Grades 4-8) | ||
Component:Support for Struggling Readers | ||
Quality Indicators | Look For | Comments/Evidence |
There is evidence that:
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- Scaffold or Scaffolded instruction during instruction, teachers assist and guide students so that they can read, learn, and respond to text in ways they may not be able to do without support. Teachers continue to provide this support until students are able to effectively read or write independently. Scaffolding student learning is especially important when students are reading a challenging text or writing a difficult piece. Examples of scaffolded instruction are: helping students to sound out the letters in unfamiliar words; providing a graphic organizer and discussing the major parts of a text before reading; supplying a beginning sentence or idea as a start for writing; and reading aloud with students as they are reading. Source: http://www.learner.org/channel/workshops/readingk2/front/keyterms3.html
- Text-to-speech software and screen reading software packages are assistive technology items which allow students to access electronic texts independently while the computer reads the text aloud.
Key Questions:
- What instructional strategies are used to promote and sustain student engagement?
- How are instruction and materials differentiated to address student with disabilities' interests and needs?
- How are students with disabilities encouraged to monitor their own learning and/or mastery of skills?
Indicator: Adolescent Literacy (Grades 4-8) | ||
Component: Motivation | ||
Quality Indicators | Look For | Comments/Evidence |
There is evidence that:
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- Dyad refers to a pair. A definition can be found at http://www.m-w.com/dictionary/dyad
.
- Scaffold or Scaffolded instruction during instruction, teachers assist and guide students so that they can read, learn, and respond to text in ways they may not be able to do without support. Teachers continue to provide this support until students are able to effectively read or write independently. Scaffolding student learning is especially important when students are reading a challenging text or writing a difficult piece. Examples of scaffolded instruction are: helping students to sound out the letters in unfamiliar words; providing a graphic organizer and discussing the major parts of a text before reading; supplying a beginning sentence or idea as a start for writing; and reading aloud with students as they are reading. Source: http://www.learner.org/channel/workshops/readingk2/front/keyterms3.html
Key Questions:
- How is learning assessed for students with disabilities?
- In what ways do assessment results inform instruction?
Indicator: Adolescent Literacy (Grades 9-12) | ||
Component: Formative and Summative Assessment | ||
Quality Indicators | Look For | Comments/Evidence |
There is evidence that:
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- Formative assessment is often done at the beginning or during a program, thus providing the opportunity for immediate evidence for student learning in a particular course or at a particular point in a program. Classroom assessment is one of the most common formative assessment techniques. Source: http://edglossary.org/formative-assessment/
- Summative assessment is a process that concerns final evaluation to ask if the project or program met its goals. Typically the summative evaluation concentrates on learner outcomes rather than only the program of instruction.Source:http://e3t.weebly.com/uploads/1/0/5/2/1052598/summative_assessments_list1.pdf
- Rubrics are a set of scoring guidelines for evaluating student work. A link to information and sample rubrics:http://www.rubrics4teachers.com/
Key Questions:
- How does the literacy program transition students with disabilities as they move from learning to read to reading to learn?
- How are students with disabilities assisted in comprehending diverse texts?
- What criteria are used in selection of instructional materials and readings across the curricula?
Indicator:Adolescent Literacy (Grades 9-12) | ||
Component: Comprehension | ||
Quality Indicators | Look For | Comments/Evidence |
There is evidence that:
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- Diverse text uses alternative resizing materials, short stories, songs, menus, recipes, advertisements, different levels of text, highlighted text.
- Authentic conversations are natural compelling conversations among students that result in increased information, encouragement and understanding is accomplished by asking simple, yet deep, questions that are meaningful to the students. Resources for this can be found at http://www.compellingconversations.com/
Key Questions:
- What approach is used to increase the vocabulary skills of students with disabilities?
- What instructional strategies or approaches are used to enable students with disabilities to decode unfamiliar words independently?
Indicator: Adolescent Literacy (Grades 9-12) | ||
Component: Vocabulary | ||
Quality Indicators | Look For | Comments/Evidence |
There is evidence that:
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Morphemic analysis is being able to break words into the smallest units of meaning in a language. http://www.litandlearn.lpb.org/strategies/strat_4morph.pdf
Key Questions:
- How are writing tasks integrated for students with disabilities in curricula specific learning?
- In what ways are all students challenged to use analytic, high level writing skills within all content areas?
Indicator: Adolescent Literacy (Grades 9-12) | ||
Component: Writing | ||
Quality Indicators | Look For | Comments/Evidence |
There is evidence that:
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- Purposes for writing are to inform or teach someone about something. Authors sometimes write things to entertain people. Still another reason is to persuade or convince their audience to do or not do something. The writer should use proper form and conventions to enhance readability. Examples can be found at http://education.ky.gov/pages/search.aspx?terms=purpose+for+writing&affiliateId=EDUCATION
- Forms and conventions include spelling, punctuation, capitalization, grammar, and paragraphing. http://www.learnnc.org/lp/editions/few/679
- Appropriate feedback quality, appropriateness, and timing are important factors to consider when providing feedback. It needs to be specific rather than general, descriptive rather than judgmental/evaluative, directed toward remediable behavior, and designed to elicit an appropriate response.
- Technology to support writing tasks include tools for word processing and multimedia software, to organize information, for physical and sensory access, for creating text, for reviewing text. References can be accessed at http://www.cited.org/index.aspx?page_id=108
- Responsive writing organizes thoughts, explores what the writer thinks, and generates ideas. It is a process of writing down ideas, then sentences and finally organizing them into a paragraph or a report. For responsive prompts see http://www.nwp.org/cs/public/download/nwp_file/12277/Responsive_Writing_Connecting_Literature_and_Composition.pdf?x-r=pcfile_d
- R.A.F.T. is a strategy in which students address role, audience, format, topic and use of a strong verb to plan their writing. The following are websites that can assist with this strategy. http://www.readingrockets.org/strategies/raft
Key Questions:
- How are literacy strategies for students with disabilities incorporated across all curricula?
- What pre-, during-, and post-reading comprehension strategies are taught to increase discipline knowledge?
- How are students’ vocabulary and background knowledge increased?
Indicator: Adolescent Literacy (Grades 9-12) | ||
Component: Literacy Instruction Across Curricula | ||
Quality Indicators | Look For | Comments/Evidence |
There is evidence that:
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- Prereadingstrategies activate and build upon background knowledge, and teach vocabulary words/concepts. During-reading strategies increase comprehension, and Post-reading strategies summarize and consolidate knowledge and concepts. Example of strategies can be found at http://www.literacyaccessonline.org/Management/R_strategy.asp
- Differentiated instruction is purposeful planning that maximizes each student’s growth and individual success by meeting each student where he or she is, and assisting in the learning process. Teachers adapt their methods for instruction to the diverse interests and abilities of learners. Additional information can be found at http://www.cast.org/publications/ncac/ncac_diffinstruc.html
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- Direct instruction is explicit, sequenced, planned lessons designed for student mastery. For more information refer to http://www.nifdi.org/
- Explicitly Model provides students with a clear, multi-sensory model of a skill or concept by the teacher.
- Metacognitive refers to thinking about cognition or to the thinking and reasoning about one's own thinking. https://teal.ed.gov/tealGuide/metacognitive
Key Questions:
- What instructional strategies are used to promote and sustain student engagement?
- How is instruction differentiated to address student interests and needs?
- How are materials selected and utilized in order to meet the needs of individual students?
Indicator: Adolescent Literacy (Grades 9-12) | ||
Component: Motivation | ||
Quality Indicators | Look For | Comments/Evidence |
There is evidence that:
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- Student-centered environment means classrooms focus on the needs and abilities of students and on topics that are relevant to the students’ lives, needs, and interests. Students are actively engaged in creating, understanding, and connecting to knowledge and learning. http://www.eric.ed.gov/ERICWebPortal/custom/portlets/recordDetails/detailmini.jsp?_nfpb=true&_&ERICExtSearch_SearchValue_0=ED398556&ERICExtSearch_SearchType_0=no&accno=ED398556
- Direct Instruction is a series of explicit, sequenced, planned lessons designed for student mastery. For more information refer to http://www.nifdi.org/
- Group Investigation method of instruction in which students work collaboratively in small groups to examine, experience, and understand the topic. Group investigation is designed for all students’ abilities and experiences relevant to the process of learning, not just to the cognitive and social domains.
- Discovery Learning an approach where students interact with their environment by exploring and manipulating objects, wrestling with questions and controversies, or performing experiments. http://www.instructionaldesign.org/models/discovery_learning.html
- Common learning goals are concrete, reasonable outcomes that can be easily measured that states what do you want all students to take away from the class. This includes course content, skill attainment, thinking and problem solving skills.
Key Questions:
- How are faculty, staff, and resources organized to maximize achievement for students with disabilities?
- What supports are available to effectively integrate technology into the various curricula?
- What expanded opportunities for research based literacy instruction are available for all students?
Indicator: Adolescent Literacy (Grades 9-12) | ||
Component: Extended Learning Opportunity(ELO) | ||
Quality Indicators | Look For | Comments/Evidence |
There is evidence that:
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- Integrated technology includes strategies, procedures, and ideas to plan and implement technology programs that will help students be successful. Examples http://www.literacy.uconn.edu/littech.htm
- Expanded opportunities include: after school, summer learning, and other out-of-school time programs, as well as extended day and year initiatives.
Quality Indicator Review and Resourse Guide
Literacy: Early Literacy
Outcomes for students with disabilities do not differ essentially from those expected for all students. Specialized curricula and instructional practices may be necessary to address the wide variation of educational needs within the students with the disabilities population but do require an increased intensity of instruction and practice that is more intentional than what may be present for other students. To create successful reading instruction for students whose disabilities more profoundly impact literacy achievement, this indicator needs to be used in conjunction with other indicators. The previous indicators articulate the research and best practices surrounding literacy instruction that hold true for students with disabilities as well as their typical peers. The intensity of instruction, the strategies and approaches identified in the Specially Designed Quality Indicators synthesize what research tells us is essential for students with disabilities, acknowledging that there are substantial individual differences present within each person.
Key Questions:
- How is reliable, individual communication between teacher and student assured during instruction?
- What opportunities are provided for students with disabilities to interact with the teacher and their peers during literacy instruction?
Indicator: Specially Designed Intensive Instruction | ||
Component: Communication and Interaction | ||
Quality Indicators | Look For | Comments/Evidence |
There is evidence that:
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- Direct instruction refers to an explicit, scientifically-based model of effective instruction with a focus on curriculum design and effective instructional delivery. Also see the term DI (Direct Instruction) used in similar contexts and while some features are the same DI refers to specific program components developed by Siegfried Engelmann. A source is http://olc.spsd.sk.ca/De/PD/instr/direct.html
- Time on task is the period of time during which a student is actively engaged in a learning activity. A way to measure time on task is http://www.newfoundations.com/SYLMODELS/SocFdns/StudPapers/TonT.html
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- Transfer of Learning is the application of skills, knowledge, and/or attitudes that were learned in one situation to another learning situation. This increases the speed of learning. http://www.nwlink.com/~donclark/hrd/learning/transfer.html
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- Language competency refers to the ability to communicate effectively, and convey information in a manner that is easily understood by diverse audiences. The definition is evolving and research in the area has been generally oriented towards English Language Learners. A source is http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1P3-860491071.html
Key Questions:
- What is the most effective continuum of levels of intensity of literacy instruction for students with significant disabilities?
- What is the systematic process for modifying the intensity of literacy instruction?
Indicator: Specially Designed Intensive Instruction | ||
Component: Cognition and Learning | ||
Quality Indicators | Look For | Comments/Evidence |
There is evidence that:
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- Generalizing skills is the ability to complete a task, perform an activity or display a behavior across settings, with different people, and at different times. Further information http://www.scholasticinterventions.org/2011/12/05/generalization-and-maintenance-of-skills
- Instructional Routines are systematic procedures that are consistently used to introduce or practice information, skills or strategies. More information: http://www.ascd.org/publications/books/108035/chapters/Appendix@-List-of-Instructional-Routines.aspx
- Student Engagement describes as a student's willingness to actively participate in routine school activities, such as attending class, submitting required work, and following teachers' directions in class http://www.education.com/reference/article/Ref_Using_Positive/
Key Questions:
- What data are used to determine instructional levels for students with disabilities?
- How are the results of assessments used to change the intensity of instruction and consistently monitor fidelity to implementation of interventions?
- How are diagnostic assessments sensitive to the student’s language competency and instructional deficits?
Indicator: Specially Designed Intensive Instruction | ||
Component: Formative and Summative Assessment | ||
Quality Indicators | Look For | Comments/Evidence |
There is evidence that:
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- Curriculum-Based Assessments is a set of measurement procedures that use direct observation and recording of a student’s performance in a local curriculum as a basis for gathering information to make instructional decisions (in Shinn, 1989; p. 62). A source is: http://www.cast.org/publications/ncac/ncac_curriculumbe.html
- Diagnostic assessment includes basic measure of skills to defining the problem and taking the required action to resolve the problems. A source: http://www.justreadflorida.com/educators/PrimSecDiagChart.asp
- Error analysis is used during as well as between instructional sessions to give corrective feedback to students as well as to determine if a pattern exists and should be addressed in the instructional intervention. http://specialed.about.com/od/literacy/a/msicue.htm
- Gap analysis refers to comparing the student's current performance against expected performance. The intervention plan is then designed to "close" the gap between current performance and expected performance. http://www.e3smallschools.org/documents/GapAnalysisModel_SamploeonLeadership.doc
- Self monitoring is the ability to regulate control and keep track of one's self. Sample http://olc.spsd.sk.ca/De/PD/instr/strats/selfmonitoring/index.html
Key Questions:
- What school-wide supports are utilized to insure that the individual needs of students with disabilities are met?
- What systems are put into place to insure that the intensity of a student’s instruction can be changed quickly and efficiently?
Indicator: Specially Designed Intensive Instruction | ||
Component: School-wide Supports | ||
Quality Indicators | Look For | Comments/Evidence |
There is evidence that:
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- Instructional Support Teams (IST) are defined as interdisciplinary problem solving teams that assist in the determination of intervention plans for students. Sources are: http://www.childadvocate.net/instructional_support.htm
and http://www.interventioncentral.com/
- Metacognition literally means "big thinking." You are thinking about thinking. Questioning, visualizing, and synthesizing information are all ways that readers can examine their thinking process. http://www.readingrockets.org/article/21160
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- Self regulation is the ability to assess affective, behavioral, and cognitive characteristics, strengths, and needs and apply strategies to make meaning. A source: http://www.ldonline.org/article/6207
- Data decision making http://www.slideboom.com/presentations/100155/How-to-Use-Data-to-Drive-Instruction
Key Question:
How do we plan for the social, emotional, behavioral and sensory needs of students with disabilities?
Indicator: Specially Designed Intensive Instruction | ||
Component: Affective Development | ||
Quality Indicators | Look For | Comments/Evidence |
There is evidence that:
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- Metacognition literally means "big thinking." You are thinking about thinking. Questioning, visualizing, and synthesizing information are all ways that readers can examine their thinking process. http://www.readingrockets.org/article/21160
- Self-regulation is the ability to assess affective, behavioral, and cognitive characteristics, strengths, and needs and apply strategies to make meaning. A source: http://www.ldonline.org/article/6207
- Structured reinforcement behavioral management systems that provide the structures students need to manage their own behaviors on a daily basis. Further overview can be found at http://web.mnstate.edu/severson/reinforc.htm
- Active Learning refers to techniques where students do more than simply sit and listen during instruction. Students need to be something like discovering, processing, and applying information. Further information and examples http://www1.umn.edu/ohr/teachlearn/tutorials/active/what/
Key Questions:
- What motivation
/engagement
strategies are employed to enhance students with disabilities investment in literacy?
- How do professional staff effect and monitor student engagement?
Indicator: Specially Designed Intensive Instruction | ||
Component: Motivation and Engagement | ||
Quality Indicators | Look For | Comments/Evidence |
There is evidence that:
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- Incentives Some additional resources can be found at http://ies.ed.gov/ncee/wwc/publications/quickreviews/qrreport.aspx?qrid=68
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- Active Learning refers to techniques where students do more than simply sit and listen during instruction. Students need to be something like discovering, processing, and applying information. Further information and examples http://www1.umn.edu/ohr/teachlearn/tutorials/active/what/
- Personalized learning materials tailoring teaching and learning to individual need, interests and preferences helping children to achieve the best possible progress and outcomes. Additional materials http://www.ed.gov/oii-news/competency-based-learning-or-personalized-learning
- Feedback is quick, concise recognition of progress towards desired goal, evidence about present performance, and an understanding of a way to close the gap between the two. http://www.questia.com/library/journal/1G1-14579863/the-practice-of-giving-feedback-to-improve-teaching
- Student choice increases student interest and motivation by allowing options for students based upon their interests and abilities. Further information http://www.ascd.org/publications/educational-leadership/sept10/vol68/num01/Choice-Is-a-Matter-of-Degree.aspx
- Monitoring student engagement - Student engagement occurs when "students make a psychological investment in learning. They try hard to learn what school offers. http://educationnorthwest.org/sites/default/files/monitoring-student-learning.pdf
Key Question:
What are the expectations for the design of classroom environment to maximize the learning outcomes for all students with disabilities?
Indicator: Specially Designed Intensive Instruction | ||
Component: Environmental Issues | ||
Quality Indicators | Look For | Comments/Evidence |
There is evidence that:
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- Adaptations to the environment adjust for differences of students with disabilities by changing factors in the classroom that may not favor the students' progress. This may include furniture, equipment, seating, noise, distractions. Some examples for ELL and for Sensory considerations http://www.landscapesmag.com/teachers/lessonplans/Classroom%20Adaptations%20for%20Students%20with%20Special%20Needs.pdf
- Active Learning refers to techniques where students do more than simply sit and listen during instruction. Students need to be something like discovering, processing, and applying information. Further information and examples http://www1.umn.edu/ohr/teachlearn/tutorials/active/what/
- Continuum of assistive technology increase independence and improve the lives of individuals with disabilities through access to Assistive Technology for work, school and community living from low tech devices to high tech equipment http://www.sc.edu/scatp/cdrom/atused.html
- Visual cues visual representation or reminder of information being delivered that prompts or reminds a student what to do. Some visual strategies that may be used are http://education.jhu.edu/PD/newhorizons/Journals/specialedjournal/Harris
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