Assessment is integral to the teaching and learning cycle.
Both formative and summative assessment play a key role in determining the direction for learning for
whole class and individuals.
This page includes some resources to assist teachers to learn about some specific assessment tools
for Literacy as well as some general information about assessment tools.

• This link to the NSW English syllabus for the Australian curricum has excellent information about assessment in English.
• A concise, informative article by Geoff Masters, 'Getting to the essence of Assessment' from the BOSTES site.
• Running Records- Ch 5 of Marie M Clay's An Observation Survey. 
  We recommend accessing this original source to learn about the taking and analysis of Running Records. Teachers can complete a Google Classroom Module on taking Running Records.

The Google Classroom Code for this Module is "zvtnp5"

• The diocese has created the K-2 Reading Skills Reference Tool, a reference document for teachers to assist in making an 'on balance' judgement about a student's reading skills in relation to a reading level. The document references the skill clusters from the DEC K-10 Literacy continuum.
• The Observation Survey assessment tool is administered to those Year 1 students who are reading at level 8 and below in March of Year 1 and again in November. To administer this assessment teachers must be trained at the Diocesan training day in February each year. Those teachers who have trained in the last 5 years but need a refresher can access this powerpoint before administering the assessment.
• This link to a Powerpoint on Assessment in general and assessment specifically for literacy skills is based on the work of researcher and educator, Anne Bayetto (Flinders Uni).
  This link is to an excerpt from Anne Bayetto's Read, Record, Respond published by Oxford Uni Press. It outlines some activities in reading instruction linked to analysis of a running record, identifying particular skills that need explicit teaching.
• Spelling Analysis Tool.
  This link is to a proforma designed by David Hornsby to analyse errors in writing to determine the spelling developmental stage of the writer.
• Dr Lyn Sharratt explains the steps to effective assessment in this 'Waterfall' diagram. It applies well to writing instruction.
• Criterion referenced assessment.
  The DEC K-10 Literacy Continuum sets outs criteria in 8 Literacy skill areas grouped in clusters corresponding to grades.
  It is a useful tool for 'plotting' the literacy development of students in these 8 areas and designing point of need teaching activities in order to move a student forward.
  It can also be used to construct an assessment rubric for independent readers (beyond cluster 8). By referring to the skill areas of Reading Texts and Comprehension a teacher can make professional judgements during the small group instructional strategies of Readers Circle and Reciprocal Teaching to identify those skills attained by the student and skills needing to be taught or reinforced through these teaching strategies.