Fountas and Pinnell are always working with teachers in schools, observing new practices and refining their current thinking. After witnessing many assessments being administered using the Benchmark Assessment System (BAS) they realized that gaining strong behavioral evidence of understanding (using talk as evidence) was new or unfamiliar to many teachers. In fact, many teachers were not receiving enough opportunity for continuous professional learning in standardized administration and evidence-based scoring.
For that reason, Fountas and Pinnell created more-detailed assessment guidelines and a new comprehension conversation rubric for the Recording Forms in Leveled Literacy Intervention Systems, 1st and 2nd Editions (LLI), BAS, 3rd Edition (only), and Fountas & Pinnell Classroom™ Guided Reading Collection. As of August 7, 2017, customers will automatically receive access to new Recording Forms via the Fountas & Pinnell Online Resources, including updates in the Online Data Management System and Reading Record Apps.
What is different?
New Comprehension Conversation Scoring Rubrics: The new rubrics provide greater reliability to this portion of the assessment, sharpen observation of literacy learning, and scaffold understanding of how to use evidence to assess students’ literacy learning.
Clarified Comprehension Conversation Scoring (Guide to Total Score): The process on how to conduct the comprehension conversation portion of the reading record has been more clearly defined through the creation of the new rubrics and an update of the scoring criteria. They have also eliminated the extra point, which will bring greater consistency of scoring among teachers.
Revised Comprehension Conversation key understandings and prompts to help elicit key understandings from students during the conversation that align to The Fountas & Pinnell Literacy™ Continuum, Expanded Edition.
Updates to Online Data Management System, and the Reading Record Apps to align with the above enhancements.
Who is affected?
This change should have no impact on teachers using the Recording Forms for LLI, 2nd Edition, BAS, 3rd Edition, and FPC Guided Reading Collections. However, since the scoring and the conversation for the Recording Forms in BAS, 1st and 2nd Editions are remaining the same, there has been concern about using the results of those assessments in conjunction with the new, enhanced forms and whether or not they will match. For those customers, you can rest assured that consistency will stay intact, and here’s why: BAS is an interval assessment used to determine an optimal learning level, while other Recording Forms (in LLI and FPC Guided Reading Collection) are continuous assessment tools to monitor progress. In addition, knowledge gained through the new Recording Forms will naturally transfer to use with the BAS, 1st and 2nd Edition Recording Forms and thus result in greater reality over time.
With refinement comes reflection
With the clear guidelines and rubrics, Fountas and Pinnell are confident that educators will achieve consistency. The new guidelines and rubric will enable teachers to sharpen their observation of students’ reading behaviors and strengthen the connection from assessment to instruction. Take this time to reflect on observations and the assessment analysis, and engage in a discussion with colleagues to plan rich and comprehensive literacy experiences that meet learners where they are and bring them forward with intention and precision.
To get a deeper explanation on this important enhancement, view the whitepaper on The Role of Recording Forms Across the Fountas & Pinnell Literacy™ Brand: A Message from Literacy Leaders, Irene C. Fountas and Gay Su Pinnell.
~The Fountas & Pinnell Literacy™ Team
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