Checklist for Assessing Emerging Readers

The Checklist for Emerging Readers is a tool used by administrators and educators to assess a student’s reading abilities. While not designed to assign numerical value to reading skills, a checklist should enhance a student’s desire and ability to read. After undergoing an assessment, students should be inspired to improve or maintain reading skills.

Purpose

A checklist assessment for emerging readers evaluates several factors pertaining to reading and comprehension. Sections of the checklist are rated with “yes,” “no,” and “maybe.” Whereas a “yes” rating gives positive implication that a student is achieving, a “no” rating implies that the child may be struggling. While neither good nor bad, “maybe” ratings imply that a student is an average reader. Through various ratings, checklist assessments help teachers make decisions concerning classroom instruction and curriculum.

Uses Checklist assessments are excellent measuring tools that administrators use when they want to improve student performance. Assessments can also be used to improve teacher-student interaction in the classroom. A teacher who is aware of a student’s difficulties with reading can address the situation from an informative perspective.

Attitudes and Comprehension The attitude of a reader is evaluated during the checklist assessment. Children who listen attentively and interact during storytime are positively rated on the checklist while uninterested students are given negative reviews. In addition, children who demonstrate complete comprehension of the story are given more positive reviews than those unable to recall the plot.

Language Development and Strategies

Aside from evaluating reading interests and comprehension, the checklist assessment also analyzes language development. Children who can be understood by others and follow directions receive positive ratings. The checklist also evaluates a child’s ability to distinguish between titles and pictures. In order to receive a positive review, students must be capable of identifying capital letters and words on the page.