For classroom teachers and reading specialists in grades K-8, here is a unique daily diagnostic tool for the quick, informal assessment of children's competence in basic reading skills at specific grade levels in any classroom or school-wide reading program.

Included are 8 separately printed, spiral-bound volumes at 8 levels:

Reading Skills Competency Tests: READINESS LEVEL
Reading Skills Competency Tests: FIRST LEVEL
Reading Skills Competency Tests: SECOND LEVEL
Reading Skills Competency Tests: THIRD LEVEL
Reading Skills Competency Tests: FOURTH LEVEL
Reading Skills Competency Tests: FIFTH LEVEL
Reading Skills Competency Tests: SIXTH LEVEL
Reading Skills Competency Tests: ADVANCED LEVEL

Each level volume provides a complete sequential Basic Reading Skills Checklist of the skills to be mastered at that level for easy individual recordkeeping, plus 40 to 70 reproducible informal Competency Tests for measuring students' competence in all skills on the Checklist at that level. And every test is accompanied by easy-to-follow directions for use and complete answer keys.

Each level volume also includes a Group Summary Profile for recording class progress in mastering basic reading skills plus a bonus copy of the "Barbe Reading Skills Check List Sequential Skill Plan," which maps out the entire reading skills progression through all levels, Readiness to Advanced.

You'll find these ready-to-use tests help fill your need for:

...quick, informal assessment of children's competence in specific skills
...diagnosis of specific reading skill strengths and weaknesses
...planning of teacher strategies for individual students and groups
...continuous evaluation of each child's progress in basic reading skills
...immediate feedback to the student and the teacher

Simply select the test for the particular skill you wish to evaluate ... copy and distribute it to the student(s) ... and follow the step-by-step directions and answer keys for administering and scoring the test.

MASTERY REQUIREMENT: Check the "Mastery Requirement" for the test to determine whether the student has demonstrated competence in the skill or needs further reinforcement or special help to master it.

To keep a record of each child's progress, you can mark his or her individual Reading Skills Checklist to indicate which skills the child has mastered or needs instruction in. The Group Summary Profile can be used to obtain an overall picture of class progress, to form small groups of students with similar needs, and to identify students who require personalized help on a prerequisite skill.

In short, "COMPETENCY TESTS FOR BASIC READING SKILLS" gives the classroom reading teacher, the reading specialist, and the Title I teacher a quick, easy-to-use tool for pinpointing and monitoring the specific reading skill needs of each child on a day-to-day basis.