Educators eye changes to Reading program for 1st graders By MARIAN A. MARAYA

The absence of mandatory kindergarten education for CNMI students has prompted educators to look into assessment measures that would cue first grade teachers where to kick start learning for first-time school students.

Pacific Resources for Learning and Education program specialist Don Burger facilitated yesterday the second session of the Reading Assessment workshop gathering a team of teachers and principals to revisit Reading diagnostic tests in contrast to prevailing CNMI standards.

“We want the students to conform with the standard at least by the 4th grade test,” said Mr. Burger.

The visiting expert said the need to rework Reading assessments has been initiated to assist local students who have never been exposed to formal instruction prior to first grade.

“Since kindergarten is not mandatory, many of them come to first grade not knowing the letters, not recognizing sounds it makes, and not comprehending its meaning,” he explained.

Design teams yesterday surveyed four different diagnostic tests and devised ways to create better strategies on how to effectively inculcate Reading to first grade students.

“So that the teachers can tailor reading instruction specifically to the child. This way, they can do a much better job of teaching the kids,” the expert said.

Mr. Burger also underscored the importance of Reading for first-time students, saying it is the single most important area that determines how the students will do in other content areas.

PREL, with aid from the local community, is assisting the Public School System develop Reading tests that would truly gauge the reading aptitude of public school students.

The tests being developed for grades 4, 8, and 11 are projected to move away from the typical “bubble” tests normally used on state-imposed evaluations.

According the experts, the proposed type of test purposely intends to measure the Reading standards and benchmarks for particular grade levels.

Unlike the nationally-normed Stanford Achievement Test-9th edition, the new Reading evaluation would be able to tap specific areas of concern directly relevant to the CNMI situation, according to Education Commissioner Rita H. Inos.

Parents, teachers, principals, government officials, and business professionals have been tapped to take a look at the state assessments and provide feedback.

In September, the design team is scheduled to present a revised draft of Reading assessments based on collective data gathered from the two-day workshop.