http://www.nelsonschoolcentral.com/cgi-bin/lansaweb?webapp=WBOOKCMP+webrtn=bookcomp+F(LW3ITEMCD)=9780176336080

The CASI program is an excellent reading assessment tool.  Students can read one of the 10 stories available and answer the 8 types of questions.  In my class, students do questions 1, 2 7, and 8.  The questions show knowledge and understanding through a summary, thinking by making inferences and analyzing information.  There are application questions where they are able to explain and make connections to text, personal experiences and life situations.

Each of the 4 levels are explained very well with criteria for the questions, sample explanations and rational for students’ writing at each level.  It makes assessing reading quite easy.

In some cases, students may have difficulty with holding a pen or penmanship.  In this case, a teacher can scribe for the student in order to collect his thoughts, bypassing the struggle with the hand.  If the student is working better at the computer, the student could write using the classroom computer.   Since we are not assessing penmanship, writing down someone’s thoughts is an excellent accommodation for someone with fine motor difficulties.