The End of Year DRA and TPRI results are in and it is an interesting picture. The TPRI scores for kindergarten are through the roof. The scores are much better than they have been in the past. The TPRI scores for first grade showed improvements, but did not show much difference in growth from other years.
The DRA for kindergarten is in most cases worse than in previous years. The DRA for first grade is in most cases better than in past years.
This poses an interesting question as to what caused these scores. I have theories. I think the TPRI phonological skills were stressed in kindergarten. All of those teachers see a need for those skills. I see evidence of this being done. However, not all of the teachers see the need to push reading. I think this shows up in the DRA scores being so low.
In first grade, I do not believe that phonological awareness was taught the way it was discussed. I think even though the teachers said they would do so, I think many of them got overwhelmed and went back to teaching the old way.
There was one teacher in kindergarten and one teacher in first grade that had remarkable growth in both assessments. I believe that these teachers did teach the way that was planned. I think that is why they saw improvements.
In order to test this I would have to get the individual teachers to admit to me what was or was not done. I do not know if I can do this with all of them.
I think this needs more study to identify the cause of the score differences or the study needs to be done again in a situation where someone can monitor what is done for fidelity to process.