I write this article as a classroom teacher of 13 years, mostly in middle schools where the name of the game is not to teach halfway between kindergarten and Grade 12, but both at the same time.
While “screeners” are likely the number one word sweeping primary classrooms in BC this year, their use in intermediate grades seems less urgent- and it baffles me. The number one thing that I have changed in my practice lately, that I teach student teachers how to do as soon as they walk through the door, and that I would recommend to anyone, is using screeners like ORF (Oral Reading Fluency),
Maze (bonus points if you can email me to tell me what that stands for!), and other CBMs (Curriculum Based Measurements) for Math. I have compiled a list of 7 of the most pertinent reasons to use screeners to persuade you, your admin, or your colleagues if you are already on the bandwagon and trying to collaborate with others to roll out universal screening across your school.
See the full article in the April/May 2024 Newsletter: here