Literacy Assessment at the Intermediate School  

            Students are regularly assessed to determine strengths and needs thereby monitoring progress and providing information for effective instructional planning.  Instructional reading levels are formally measured through the Developmental Reading Assessment
in conjunction with teacher observations during Guided and Independent Reading activities.  All third, fourth, and fifth graders take the
PSSA (Pennsylvania System of School Assessment) (a Power Point) annually. Three additional District Reading Assessments are used all the grade levels throughout the year to measure student progress in mastering the state reading anchors.  Observations of classwork, student response journals, discussions, and teacher-made assessments are also used to assess student growth

            In writing, students are expected to learn how to write narrative, informational, and persuasive pieces.  The Pennsylvania Domain Writing Rubric helps students learn to address the need to focus on a topic, effectively make a point with appropriate content, organize thoughts clearly, demonstrate style, and use standard spelling and grammar.   Fifth grade students write to the Pennsylvania State Writing Prompts early in the second semester. 

            Reading and Writing skills are graded using the Pennsylvania State Levels of Academic Progress. These levels are used by the state when reporting PSSA results. The levels are as follows:

READING AND WRITING GRADES

4 - ADVANCED

  • Demonstrates superior academic performance

  • Shows an in-depth
    understanding of concepts and skills

  • Demonstrates the ability to apply and extend learning
  • Independently explores ideas and topics

3 - PROFICIENT

  • Demonstrates satisfactory academic performance

  • Shows solid understanding of concepts, skills, and strategies

2 - BASIC

  • Demonstrates partial understanding of concepts and skills

  • Needs additional instruction and/or improved student effort is needed to achieve proficiency in the standards

1 - BELOW BASIC

  • Demonstrates little understanding of the academic standards

  • Shows minimal progress towards mastery of the concepts and skills

  • Working below grade level expectations

    Report Cards are issued four times a year to formally report student progress.  Work samples are sent home throughout the marking period to inform parents of on-going progress.  Parent Conferences are held in October and March to discuss student strengths and needs. 

    UM Literacy