Informal Reading Inventory

 

What:

Individual tests given by a classroom teacher. The test generally includes graded reading passages and a comprehension check. Some include additional items (ex. interest inventories, sight word recognition, letter recognition).

 

Who:

These assessments are used for beginning readers to grade 8 (some higher), but primarily used in K-3.

 

Why:

Teachers use informal reading inventories for several reasons:

1. To diagnose reading problems - oral reading miscues (errors) nd comprehension.

2. To identify the reading levels.

3. To determine cueing systems being used/not being used.

4. To develop interventions.

5. To monitor student growth.

 

When:

Best used as a pre-assessment of reading and then throughout to monitor growth but can be used whenever needed to identify reading levels, comprehenson skills, and reading miscues.

 

How:

1. Select the IRI best designed to meet purposes.

2. Determine starting point (see directions specific for instrument being used).

3. Student reads a passage aloud while teacher conducts a running record/record of oral reading identfying miscues.

4. After oral reading, the student either retells the story or answers questions about the story (deterine by IRI selected for use).

5. Teacher analyzes the results of both the oral reading and the comprehension check.