EDRD 692. Reading Diagnosis: Assessment to Inform Instruction
Prerequisites: EDRD 688; EDRD 641
Credit Hours: (3)
This course is designed to provide instruction in the administration and interpretation
of a selected battery of tests, and in designing a program of intervention for students
with reading disabilities in a clinical setting. Students will prepare a case study
for teachers and parents that will include a description and interpretation of testing
procedures and results, as well as plans for intervention using appropriate methods
and materials.
Detailed Description of Content of Course
This course explores a wide range of literacy assessments and screening measures as
they apply to individual students, classrooms, and schools. Candidates administer
diagnostic assessments to students struggling in reading and writing. Assessment data
is analyzed, and instructional recommendations are made based on the data. Effective
written communication, in the form of a parent-friendly case report with recommendations
and personal communication with parents and school personnel, is discussed.
Major topics addressed include:
- Appropriate assessment instruments across the stages of reading development
- Informal reading assessment as a diagnostic tool
- Phonological awareness assessments
- Writing assessment
- Fluency assessment
- Comprehension assessment
- Spelling assessment
- Motivation assessment
- Miscue analysis
- Using data to inform instruction
- Connecting assessment and instruction within a multi-tiered system of support (MTSS)
framework
- Effective communication with parents of struggling readers
- Role of the Reading Specialist as a diagnostician
- Role of collaboration with other specialized personnel in a school setting
Detailed Description of Conduct of Course
This course uses a variety of interactive modes: digital recordings of examples of
assessment, teaching demonstrations, discussions, and student-led colloquia for collaborative
decision-making.
Goals and Objectives of the Course
Goals and Objectives of the Course: The goals and objectives included below refer
to the Virginia Department of Education Standards for Reading Specialists and the
International Literacy Association Standards for Reading/Literacy Specialists.
Upon completion of the course, reading specialist candidates will be able to:
- Demonstrate expertise with educational measurement and evaluation, including validity,
reliability, and normative comparisons in test design and selections, and demonstrate
expertise in interpreting grade equivalents, percentile ranks, normal curve equivalents,
and standards scores.
- Demonstrate expertise in the use of formal and informal screening, diagnostic, and
progress monitoring assessments for language proficiency, concepts of print, phonemic
awareness, letter recognition, decoding, fluency, vocabulary, and comprehension.
- Demonstrate expertise in the ability to use diagnostic data to inform instruction
for acceleration, intervention, remediation, and differentiation.
- Demonstrate understanding of the purposes, attributes, formats, strengths and limitations,
and influences of various types of tools in a comprehensive literacy and language
assessment system and apply that knowledge to using assessment tools.
- Demonstrate expertise of formal and informal assessments and screening measures for
evaluating language and literacy knowledge and skills, including students' reading
skills and strategies, word-attack skills, vocabulary, word recognition in context,
reading fluency, and oral and silent reading comprehension in developmentally appropriate
ways.
- Critique assessments for issues of cultural bias.
- Collaborate with colleagues to administer, interpret and use data for decision-making
about student assessment, instruction, intervention, and evaluation for individuals
and groups of students.
- Analyze, interpret, and apply data from school-based assessments to determine overall
school strengths and areas of need and propose research-supported approaches to addressing
the identified needs.
- Collaborate with and assist teachers in selecting, administering, analyzing, interpreting
assessments, and using results for decision-making in classrooms and schools.
Assessment Measures
Assessment measures may include, but are not limited to:
- Assessment inventory
- Student assessment and case report
- Final exam
Other Course Information
None
Review and Approval
5/22/95 Reviewed Dr. Robert Lockwood
10/2008 Reviewed Don Langrehr/Jennifer Jones
April 27, 2026