Programs I work with complain loudly that the BEST does not measure 
what actually happens in instruction --unless one teaches to the BEST.  
  My issue with the BEST,is that, according to extensive study in what 
causes adults to have difficulty in learning language and literacy, the 
BEST does not measure those things.  Thus you can know what English 
your learners know, but not what to do to help them learn more nor WHY 
they are at that level.     Robin Lovrien Schwarz

-----Original Message-----
From: valleypeters at tetonliteracy.org
To: focusonbasics at nifl.gov
Sent: Tue, 20 Feb 2007 1:01 PM
Subject: [FocusOnBasics 634] Re: Diagnostic assessment for lowest 
literacylearners?

What about the BEST Literacy assessment?  We use this with our ESOL 
students and it tests reading signs, bus schedules and other low 
literacy tasks.

Valley Peters



On Feb 20, 2007, at 10:14 AM, Virginia Tardaewether wrote:

Have you looked at the CASAS lower level tests such as beginning
literacy for 27, 28 and 31, 32, 32 RX


-----Original Message-----
From: focusonbasics-bounces at nifl.gov
[mailto:focusonbasics-bounces at nifl.gov] On Behalf Of
PHCSJean.34425698 at bloglines.com
Sent: Monday, February 19, 2007 7:59 PM
To: Focusonbasics at NIFL.GOV
Subject: [FocusOnBasics 629] Diagnostic assessment for lowest
literacylearners?


Hi all.
Does anyone out there have a test that can be used to measure
improvement
in the lowest literacy learners? I'm looking at a grant that wants to
see
learners move from one EFL (educational functioning level) to another in
the
course of a year. I'm working with pre-literate adult immigrants and I'm
not
sure that we'll be able to get from Beginning ABE Literacy (no reading)
to
Beginning Basic Education which is defined as "Individual can read
simple
material on familiar subjects and comprehend simple and compound
sentences
in single or linked paragraphs containing a familiar vocabulary; can
write
simple notes and messages on familiar situations but lacks clarity and
focus."




When I inquired about it, I was told that I should look to document
grwoth
with another assessment. TABE is below 367 at this level, CASAS is 200
and
below and ABLE at 523. Are any of these granular enough to measure a
difference
at this level? I'm not super familiar with them.


Is there anything else
folks have used with pre-literate students to measure success
objectively,
yet not have the student "fail" 3/4 of the test to measure growth?
Thanks!


Jean Marrapodi
Providence Assembly of God Learning Center
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National Institute for Literacy
Focus on Basics mailing list
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To unsubscribe or change your subscription settings, please go to 
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Message sent to valleypeters at tetonliteracy.org.






Valley Peters
Director of Adult Services
valleypeters at tetonliteracy.org
307.733.9242, ext. 227


Teton Literacy Program provides literacy education and resources to 
open doors for individuals and families to achieve their personal, 
professional, and academic goals, as contributing members of our 
community.








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