DIBELS...What's DIBELS?
by Nicole Rummel
January 31, 2008
DIBELS stands for Dynamic Indicators of Basic Literacy Skills and is a formative assessment given to all West students in grades kindergarten through fifth grade. The universal assessment given in the fall, winter and spring of each school year provides teachers with information regarding student progress in the areas of phonological awareness, phonemic awareness, fluency and comprehension. Because this is a formative assessment it is not used as a grade. Instead, the assessment is used to guide instructional decisions.
The teachers have completed the assessment this winter, now what? Teachers meet with the reading aides, building principal and school psychologist to review the data and determine where reading instruction needs to be focused second semester to meet the needs of students. This could mean whole class interventions, small group interventions, or individualized interventions depending on the students’ needs and the area for improvement.
