|
PM Benchmarks |
| Assessment Area |
English-Reading
|
| Year level |
1-8 |
| NZ origin? |
No , although some of the original texts were written in New Zealand. Texts are trialled and levelled in Australia. |
| Standardised? |
No , but texts have been levelled through extensive trialling |
| Administration to individual or group? |
Individual |
| What does it assess? |
Silent reading for the purpose of oral retelling, oral reading for miscue analysis and comprehension to ascertain the student's level of understanding |
| Purpose |
To assess student reading accuracy, fluency, behaviour and comprehension using unseen texts. Developed from the Price Milburn readers as an assessment tool. |
| Validity |
There is some evidence of validity. |
| Reliability |
No reliability data available. |
| What measures does it give? |
Instructional or independent reading levels to level 14, reading and reading-age levels thereafter to level 30 using the Fry Readability Formula |
| How long does it take to administer? |
10 - 15 minutes per student |
| How much training is needed? |
It is essential to become familiar with the PM Benchmark Reading Assessment Resource texts and procedures before administering the resource. A professional development DVD shows exemplars of teachers conducting assessments at different levels. |
| Scoring and data analysis |
Student record sheets, pro formas supplied on a CD with the pack, allow the recording of fluency, knowledge and skills, strategies and a scored retell. Instructions for the analysis of information are given in the Teachers' Resource Book.
There is a software option which simplifies the recording of reading records and generation of student profile data. The software automatically calculates data such as reading accuracy rate, error rate and self-correction rate. A variety of graph options are also included to demonstrate the progress of individual students, class groups, whole classes and the whole school. |
| Does it provide 'what next' strategies? |
Yes , the teachers' resource book and software have recommendations for future development. |
| Is it available in te reo Maori? |
No |
| Cost? |
Sample Costs September 2017, including GST:
PM Benchmark Reading Assessment Resource 1 & 2 $485.00 each
Online subscription $200
|
| Author, date of publication and publisher |
Price Milburn 2008
|
| Availability |
Find representatives for Cengage Learning by clicking here. |
| Further Information |
The PM Benchmark kit was developed as an assessment resource from the Price Milburn PM Readers. There are two kits, each consisting of 46 levelled texts ranging progressively from emergent level to reading age 12. There is one fiction text for every level up to 14, and one fiction and one non-fiction text from levels 15–30. Guidelines on administration are included in the teacher's notes. Each text has a prepared Reading Record and Assessment Record pro forma, which is also available on CD. There is also a professional development DVD, which shows exemplars of teachers conducting assessments at different levels. The assessments are administered to students as unfamiliar texts, to reveal the child's willingness to take risks, and ability to use and to integrate strategies independently. There are three key elements of the assessment procedure: silent reading of the text then retelling, reading aloud and teacher taking a running reading record, and questioning for comprehension. The student's reading level is identified using a calculation of accuracy level using reading level tables, and their ability to answer comprehension questions. The comprehension questions are generalised, and not analysed to determine the reading strategy needed.
Components
- 1 fiction text for levels 1–14
- 1 fiction and 1 non-fiction text for levels 15–30
- A range of text types introduced at appropriate levels
- Improved student records to record fluency, knowledge and skills, strategies, and a scored retell
- A Procedures Card, a handy summary of reading assessment procedures
- DVD with video footage modelling reading assessment procedures and FAQs
- Convenient carry box with handle.
Although PM Benchmarks has been developed as an individual reading assessment tool, it may also be used as a measure of silent reading comprehension, self monitoring systems and knowledge of print conventions. |
