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Understanding literacy development

Reading and writing develop together in a reciprocal process, yet they are often taught as separate skills. Research shows that strengthening writing can support reading development, and vice versa (Graham & Hebert, 2011). For educators, understanding how these skills develop and interact can feel overwhelming.

Research-based frameworks provide a roadmap for understanding how literacy develops, helping educators identify the skills that contribute to proficient reading and writing, guide instruction and assessment, and support informed decisions about intervention and support. 

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K-12 leaders and educators believe in the importance of assessments. The trouble is, the assessment tools they’re using don’t prove nearly as effective as they’d like, a new survey from Pearson reveals.

Administrators, classroom teachers and special educators from across the country responded to the survey. The most worrisome aspect of the problems they identify? The gaps appear in the areas educators consider most important to assess.

School and district leaders can’t afford to ignore these assessment shortcomings.

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Assessments take up too much time, K–12 educators and leaders say. This is the most frequently cited challenge in a new national survey by Pearson Assessments and K–12 Dive’s studioID. 

Most of the educators surveyed say they use formative assessments (69%), teacher-created assessments (67%) and progress-monitoring assessments (66%) as well as state-mandated summative assessments. But fewer than half believe their current assessments are “very effective” at measuring students’ understanding. And only 38% strongly agree that assessments let them pinpoint student needs.

So how can leaders ease the burden on teachers and make assessment more effective? Here are five ways to achieve those goals:

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Are you in the process of deciding between home-grown and commercially available interim assessments? Start by asking what “job” these assessments are hired to do.  

• What outcome do you expect after the assessment results are reported, analyzed, and applied within the classroom?
• What assessment results are needed to support the changes you seek?
• What assessments design will elicit those results?
  

By articulating a clear theory of action, districts will have explicit expectations for the interim assessment that allows them to evaluate which design and features best support meeting those expectations. 

Additional questions to ask during your evaluation

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More and more K-12 educators are personalizing instruction. In fact, 99% of those surveyed in December 2021 said they were shifting more to personalized learning.

Assessment plays a crucial role in personalized learning. After all, you need to know what a student has learned before you can determine where they need further instruction.

But many schools haven’t fully leveraged assessments. The most effective assessment tools don’t just measure academic knowledge and progress. They also give educators and caregivers insights into the whole child.

Just as you can personalize instruction, you can — and should — personalize assessment.

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Recognized as a "Best Assessment Solution" and "Best Parent & Student Solution"

School Assessment solutions from Pearson have been recognized in the 2024 EdTech Digest Awards, with Navvy and Spotlight products earning 'Cool Tools' finalist honors for Best Assessment and Best Parent & Student solutions.

The EdTech Digest Awards celebrate the "best and brightest" in education technology and serve as the world's largest awards program of its kind. Since 2011, the Awards have recognized products, organizations, and individuals for outstanding contributions in transforming education through technology to enrich the lives of learners everywhere.

"It's a wonderful honor and a meaningful achievement for our teams to be recognized for innovation, excellence, and above all, student and educator impact. We’re incredibly proud of Navvy and Spotlight and look forward to further building and sharing their capabilities with more schools in the future," said Sharon Hague, managing director for Pearson School Assessments.

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