What Research Has to Say About Reading Instruction - International ...

Coming Up: Get Ready for Session 17
With increased calls for accountability, schools and districts are
increasingly making use of the results of “high-stakes” tests to
demonstrate student achievement and school improvement. In
“Preparing Students for High-Stakes Test Taking in Reading,” John
Guthrie examines the characteristics of these high-stakes tests;
describes the responses of teachers, administrators, and students to
them; and offers recommendations for preparing students for testing.
Take a look at the high-stakes tests in place in our school and
district. Think about these things while you read this chapter:
• How can a teacher allocate time to the essential phases of test
preparation (format practice, strategy instruction, and integrated
curriculum for engaged reading)?
• What are the potential hazards of high-stakes test preparation in
classrooms and schools?
• What are research-validated components of instruction for
preparing students to take high-stakes reading tests?
Keep thinking about next steps this week: What have you learned
so far from your participation in the group? Are you meeting your goals?
Has anything changed in your classroom over the past weeks? What
ideas do you have about sharing your learning with your colleagues?
From the Professional Development Edition of What Research Has to Say About Reading Instruction (3rd ed.),
© 2009 International Reading Association.
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