Plan powerful data-driven instruction!

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Developed by leading literacy experts Jan Richardson, Ph.D., and Maria Walther, Ed.D., the Next Step Guided Reading Assessment uses Richardson’s proven Assess-Decide-Guide teaching system to determine students’ reading levels and target instructional next steps.

From the key text features in the assessment texts to the evidence-based comprehension questions, the Next Step Guided Reading Assessment provides teachers with a way to assess students and teach them the skills to meet higher standards.

Next Step Guided Reading Assessment

Data Management

Plan Differentiated Reading Instruction

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The digital management system provides teachers with the tools to use classroom data to inform lesson planning, and administrators with reports to monitor progress across all schools.

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Plan Differentiated Reading Instruction

GRADE LABEL

The digital management system provides teachers with the tools to use classroom data to inform lesson planning, and administrators with reports to monitor progress across all schools.

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Assess, Decide, Guide

Content Card 1: Assess

Assess

Pinpoint your teaching focus, select texts, and plan and teach powerful lessons in four easy steps.

Content Card 2: Decide

Decide

Use data to determine students’ reading levels, form instructional groups, and create effective action plans for student learning goals.

Content Card 3: Guide

Guide

Access professional development tools, resources, and videos online to plan personalized instruction with lessons to match reading stages.

Get to know your readers in
four easy steps

1 . Reading Interest Survey (whole class)
Uncover students’ reading interests to match readers to just-right texts.

2. Word Knowledge Inventory (whole class)
Determine skills in phonological awareness and phonics to inform your word study instruction.

3. Comprehension Assessment (whole class)
Evaluate students' higher-level thinking skills and identify students who need immediate support. (For Grades K–2, this is administered as a read-aloud assessment.)

4. Reading Assessment Conference (one on one)
Obtain precise data on phonics, word recognition, fluency, and comprehension to determine instructional levels and identify skills and strategies to target during guided reading lessons.

Meet the Authors

Jan Richardson, Ph.D., is an educational consultant who has trained thousands of teachers and works with schools and districts to ensure that every student succeeds in reading. Her work is informed by her experience as a reading specialist, a Reading Recovery teacher leader, a staff developer, and a teacher of every grade from kindergarten through high school.

Maria Walther, Ed.D., is an author and expert in literacy with more than three decades of experience as a first-grade teacher in the Chicago area. She was honored as Illinois Reading Educator of the Year and earned the ICARE for Reading Award for fostering a love of reading in children.

Testimonials

Targets Instruction Efficiently

An all-in-one product that simplifies and clarifies the complex process of assessing and teaching reading. Gives teachers a full picture of a reader so they can target instruction more efficiently and effectively.

 

Rosanne L. Kurstedt, Ph.D.
Educational Consultant and Staff Developer
Westfield, NJ

Simple Yet Effective

The Assess-Decide-Guide framework is simple yet effective, and will undoubtedly increase the effectiveness of core instruction.

 

Terry J. Dade
Assistant Superintendent
Fairfax County Public Schools, VA

Clear and Pragmatic

The results have been amazing. Guided reading instruction is no longer a puzzle. Teachers are thrilled with the clarity and pragmatic shifts in their practice.

 

Ellen Lewis
Reading Specialist
Fairfax County Public Schools, VA

Valuable Teaching Points

Valuable teaching points can be derived from the simple checklists for decoding and retelling, as well as from the quality comprehension questions. The assessment texts are appropriately leveled and of high interest to kids, making this assessment a breeze to administer!

 

Melanie E. Smith
Reading Specialist, NBCT
South Salem Elementary School, Salem, VA

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