Transcript Research says that good readers these reading behaviors in place:

•read and record the specific amount of time they are
reading each day
•select different genres to read
•develops metacognitive skills: understands the
conditions for optimal independent reading and knows
that reading is for meaning and has strategies ready
when comprehension breaks down
The DRA2 is a tool the teacher uses to
assess your child as a reader
 shows the ability to decode and understand what
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he/she is reading and has strategies to use when
something does not make sense.
reads fluently: reads accurately with expression with
an appropriate reading rate
makes predictions
accesses prior knowledge
is able to question the text
•uses text features and graphic organizers to get additional
information
•summarizes what was read
•understands and records literal information
•makes inferences
•finds text evidence to support his/her ideas
•applies appropriate comprehension strategies to construct
and monitor meaning
Comparing DRA to DRA2
Grade 3
Books range from Level A to 44 (Level 40 is
a 4th grade text, Level 44 is 5th )
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 Teachers note oral reading fluency
 Teachers stop assessment if accuracy is 
below 94%
 All questions answered orally. Top
Comprehension score is 24
 Scores entered on Continuum
 Teachers find Independent DRA text
level
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Books range from Level A to 40 Level 40
is from DRA2 4-8 set, no 5th grade texts
Teachers time oral reading rate starting
at Level 14
Teachers stop assessment if oral reading
is below Independent Level
Students reading at Level 28 and above
write answers to questions.
Vocabulary concepts included
bringing top score to 28
Teachers enter scores on Continuum
Teachers find Independent DRA2 text
level and use guidelines for
Instructional text levels
New Features of DRA2
Grades 4 & 5
* DRA 4-8 and Bridge Pack are combined to
include Level 20 (second Grade) through Level 80
(eighth grade)
* Non-Fiction texts now include Contents
Page and Glossary
* Levels 60, 70 and 80 include a note-taking
page to help students organize their
thinking before writing.
* Questions utilizing text features and graphic
organizers have been added to the student
booklets.
* The overall scoring has been simplified.
Dates for NYS Exams
NYSESLAT (K-5)
 Speaking:
 Mathematics (3-5)
April 18 - May 18, 2012
 Reading, Writing and
Listening:
May 7- May 18, 2012
April 25- April 27, 2012
 Science Performance
May 23- June 1, 2012
 Written/Science
June 4, 2012
English Language Arts
(ELA) 3-5
 April 17-April 19, 2012
2012 ELA Testing Times
Grades 3/4/5
Total Estimated
Time
Book
Estimated time
for completion
Day
Administered
1
70
1
2
60
2
3
45
3
175
“Have a Go”
This is a non-fiction article from a fourth grade ELA test
The Dragon Hunter, by Keith Wilson
Questions pertain to:
 vocabulary
 main idea
 details
 drawing conclusions