Subject: Early Childhood
Grade Level(s): Pre-K – 3
Measures Growth: Yes
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The STEP Literacy Assessment® is a developmental literacy assessment, instructional tool, and data management system. It is intended to define the pathway and track the progress of pre-kindergarten through third grade students as they learn to read using research-based milestones.
Pros: Aligned to the standards I teach • Assesses a range of students, including those from far below to far above grade level
Cons: Does not assess higher-order thinking
Pros: Easy to administer • Results returned quickly • Helps me track my students' learning gains over the course of the school year
STEP is a great formative assessment that our building is using to help guide reading instruction in our classrooms. It is not only informative to the classroom teacher but to the other grade levels as we look for trends in skill progression and which skills may be lacking across grade-levels. STEP has helped us measure and track student growth through the years.
Submitted by Margeaux in Illinois on May 7, 2013
Pros: Aligned to the standards I teach • Assesses a range of students, including those from far below to far above grade level
Cons: Does not assess higher-order thinking • Misses growth of some students, such as those far below and/or far above grade level • Takes students too long to complete
Pros: Results returned quickly • Helps me track my students' learning gains over the course of the school year • Data is presented clearly • Data I receive helps me understand where I am teaching well and where I need to improve
Generally, this assessment gives useful data if used in tandem with other growth measures. However, a few updates would give a better idea of EXACTLY how much students have grown. For example adding a few more texts--there is no book for certain letters, which means that the instructional (used to plan guided reading) and independent levels may be inaccurate. In addition, the questions and suggested responses don't really allow for a variety of correct answers, which is true higher order thinking. These modifications are low-cost, as teachers can download/print additional texts and new questions for more meaningful results.
Submitted by Susan in Illinois on April 13, 2013
Pros: Aligned to the standards I teach • Assesses a range of students, including those from far below to far above grade level
Pros: Results returned quickly • Helps me track my students' learning gains over the course of the school year • Data is presented clearly • Data I receive helps me understand where I am teaching well and where I need to improve
It is time intensive but extremely informative
Submitted by Mary in Illinois on April 19, 2012
Pros: Aligned to the standards I teach • Assesses higher-order thinking • Assesses a range of students, including those from far below to far above grade level • Takes students a reasonable amount of time to complete
Cons: Takes students too long to complete
Pros: Results returned quickly • Helps me track my students' learning gains over the course of the school year • Data is presented clearly • Data I receive helps me understand where I am teaching well and where I need to improve
Cons: Difficult to administer
The STEP is a very valuable tool for teachers when assessing students' reading accuracy, fluency, oral and written comprehension. Teachers must dedicate a lot of instructional time to administer each test because students are supposed to be tested until they do not achieve a specific STEP level. The assessment has a good rubric for oral and written comprehension. The assessment will inform a teacher's instructional planning for guided reading.
Submitted by Vibha in Illinois on January 22, 2012
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