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Curriculum Corner

End of Year (WHAT?!?) Assessments–In House Assessments


Teachers around the building are completing their in-house end of year assessments that help to form your child’s report card grade and provide more detailed knowledge about your child to pass on to next year’s teachers.  As Curriculum Coordinator, I also take a look at the school as a whole to note trends, find places that we can work on next year, and ensure that we truly meet our mission of reaching every child and helping them to meet their potential.


As a teacher, this is my favorite part of the year. It gives each of us the opportunity to build the final leg of that teacher-student relationship: showing how much each child has grown this year and celebrating their success!


Here’s the assessments your child may talk to you about:


PreK: 

PreK completes a growth evaluation using PALS-PK, which assesses letter recognition, letter sound recognition, rhyming, and early reading skills. PK also has a math screening, oral language screening, and shows off how they write their name and draw a person! 


Kindergarten:

Kindergarten completes a plethora of assessments–

  • PALS-K assesses letter recognition, letter sound recognition, rhyming, phonemic awareness, spelling of CVC words, and Concept of Word (beginning reading skill). The growth from beginning to end of year is amazing!
  • Fountas and Pinnell Leveled Reading Assessment gives the teachers information regarding the accuracy, fluency, and comprehension level of each student as a reader. This information helps next year’s teacher know where to start.
  • The Developmental Spelling Assessment (DSA) focuses each student’s Word Study to work on the spelling skills they need individually (are they sorting by beginning sounds? Ending sounds? Medial vowels?).  This information helps next year’s teacher know where to start.
  • The Diocese of Arlington requires each K student to take the Kindergarten Assessment of Mathematical Competency  (KAMC),  which assesses the students on skills found in the K math curriculum.
  • The Sight Word Assessment will give teachers the opportunity to check in on sight word knowledge–officially. Kindergarten tests recognition of the Dolch Sight Word List.

First Grade

  • Fountas and Pinnell Leveled Reading Assessment gives the teachers information regarding the accuracy, fluency, and comprehension level of each student as a reader. This information helps next year’s teacher know where to start.
  • The Developmental Spelling Assessment (DSA) focuses each student’s Word Study to work on the spelling skills they need individually (are they sorting by beginning sounds? Ending sounds? Medial vowels?).  This information helps next year’s teacher know where to start.
  • An end-of-year math assessment from our Everyday Math series will check understanding of what has been taught.  
  • The Sight Word Assessment will give teachers the opportunity to check in on sight word knowledge–officially. First grade is working on recognition and beginning to work on spelling of the Dolch Sight Word lists.

Second Grade

  • Fountas and Pinnell Leveled Reading Assessment gives the teachers information regarding the accuracy, fluency, and comprehension level of each student as a reader. This information helps next year’s teacher know where to start.
  • The Developmental Spelling Assessment (DSA) focuses each student’s Word Study to work on the spelling skills they need individually.  This information helps next year’s teacher know where to start.
  • An end-of-year math assessment from our Everyday Math series will check understanding of what has been taught.  
  • The Sight Word Assessment will give teachers the opportunity to check in on sight word knowledge–officially. First grade is working on recognition and beginning to work on spelling of the Dolch Sight Word lists.

Third through Fourth Grades

  • Fountas and Pinnell Leveled Reading Assessment gives the teachers information regarding the accuracy, fluency, and comprehension level of each student as a reader. This information helps next year’s teacher know where to start.
  • The Developmental Spelling Assessment (DSA) focuses each student’s Word Study to work on the spelling skills they need individually (are they sorting by beginning sounds? Ending sounds? Medial vowels?).  This information helps next year’s teacher know where to start.
  • An end-of-year math assessment from our Everyday Math series will check understanding of what has been taught.  


Fifth, Sixth and Seventh Grades

  • Fountas and Pinnell Leveled Reading Assessment gives the teachers information regarding the accuracy, fluency, and comprehension level of each student as a reader. This information helps next year’s teacher know where to start.
  • The Developmental Spelling Assessment (DSA) focuses each student’s Word Study to work on the spelling skills they need individually (are they sorting by beginning sounds? Ending sounds? Medial vowels?).  This information helps next year’s teacher know where to start.
  • Fifth Grade will take the Diocesan Math Assessment for math placement in Middle School.
  • Seventh and Eighth Grade students will take the IOWA Exam for Math.

Eighth Grade

  • Congratulations to 8th grade for successfully completing the High School Placement Test! 
  • Informal end-of-year assessments may be given at the teacher’s discretion.