| FAQ's — After the Tool |
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Q. As a parent, how should I share the results of the screening tool with my child's teacher?
A. If you have used theGet Ready to Read! screening tool with your child, it is a good idea to share the results with your child's teacher or care provider. To have the teacher's full attention, you should try to set up a meeting time that is quiet and convenient for both of you, rather than "catching" the teacher at arrival or dismissal time. You can bring the screening tool, manual and your child's answer sheet, and explain what the screening tool is and how your child did. If you completed the screening tool online, print out and bring the results page and other information about the tool. If you have any concerns about your child's literacy development, this would be a good time to share them. You can tell your child's teacher that there is more information about the screening tool on our Web site, including free classroom activities to print out.
Q. As a teacher or child care professional, how should I share the results of the screening tool with a child's parent?
A. If you have used the Get Ready to Read! screening tool with your class or group, it is very important to share the results with each child's parent or guardian. Set up a time to meet with the parent when he or she can have your full attention. You may want to have a copy of the screening tool and the child's answer sheet with you. Explain to the parent that the screening tool is not a test, but is meant to be a quick and easy way to see where a four-year-old is on the road to being ready to learn to read. It gives you a good sense of what the child can do and what the child still needs to learn, and is one piece of information that will help you meet the needs of the child. This meeting is a good time to explain to parents what they can do at home to encourage their children's literacy development. You can print out the free one-to-one activity cards for parents to take home and use.
Q. Should I be concerned if a child misses certain questions on the screening tool?
A. You should always carefully observe a child as he or she goes through the items on the screening tool. If, for example, you notice that the child has difficulty with most of the items with letters of the alphabet, you should be sure to choose some activities that will strengthen that particular skill. If you notice that the child has trouble with items towards the end of the screening tool that ask him or her to think about sounds and word parts, you should choose activities that address those skills. If a child is within a month or two of entering kindergarten and still having trouble with most of the items on the screening tool, you may want to consider further evaluation for that child.
Q. If a child scores 18-20 on the screening tool, should I still use the activity cards?
A. Even if a child gets 18, 19 or 20 correct answers on the screening tool, there is always more for him or her to practice and learn. It is important to be flexible as young children are always growing and changing! You should always observe how the child reacts to the activities you choose. If the child seems to have mastered a particular skill, move on to something more challenging. If the child seems frustrated, you should choose something more basic.
Q. Are the scores within each domain important if looked at on their own?
A. You should only calculate the score for the entire screening tool. Because Get Ready to Read! is a short screening tool with different numbers of items for each of the three domains, the sub-scores do not have any statistical meaning. However, if you notice through observation that a child is having difficulty with particular skills, you should make sure to address those skills through activities and experiences during your time with the child.
Q. Where can I go if I have additional questions?
A. If you have additional questions, you can try to find the answers by going to our home page and using the search feature. You can also e-mail your questions to our help box at
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. We make every effort to respond to your questions within a few days. |
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