Sticky Notes

Sticky notes do not need batteries, and they provide a great way to document key learning events. Teachers can stick them directly on a student’s paper, a classroom newsletter, or a note going home to attract attention to something specific.

For example, a teacher can write something positive to parents about their children on sticky notes and then place the sticky notes on the students’ cubbies on Friday afternoons for parents to see at pick-up time.

Recorders

Small, inexpensive, portable voice recorders easily fit in a pocket to keep notes on student learning, including first attempts at reading, singing, counting, or telling a story. For students learning English as a second language, recorders help track emerging reading abilities over time. This can be accomplished by having students describe the same picture or read the same passage at different points in the year.

Photocopiers

Photocopiers provide many assessment possibilities such as making copies of student portfolios to document reading progress. Teachers can also use copiers to enlarge small sections of student writing samples for display.

Scanners

Scanners work like copiers, except the images appear on a computer monitor. Teachers can e-mail student work to parents, send it home on a computer disk, post it on a Web page, or print it. Students enjoy seeing their work being scanned, and older students can scan their own work. Scanners also enable development of electronic portfolios.

Software

Software programs help students build reading skills and help teachers measure learning. For example, Merit Software offers programs in reading fundamentals, reading comprehension, and ESL grammar. Renaissance Learning offers a series of reading programs including Accelerated Reader, STAR Reading, and STAR Early Literacy that combine technology with professional development to help improve student test scores and build critical-thinking skills. Widely used reading software is also available from Knowledge Adventure, The Learning Company, and The Learning Village. Computer-based reading programs keep records of student skill development so that teachers can check progress at any time, print out reports, and conduct other assessment tasks.

Teachers can locate available reading software programs using any Web search engine. To enter a search engine query just type in a few descriptive words (e.g. reading assessment software or reading software) and hit the 'enter' key for a list of relevant web pages. Since most search engines return web pages that contain all the words in a query, refining or narrowing a search is as simple as adding more words to the already entered search terms.