Understanding the Tutoring Club Reading Assessment Process

At Tutoring Club, we recognize the importance of a solid reading foundation for academic success. Our reading assessment process is designed to evaluate students’ skills comprehensively, aligning closely with the St Johns’ School standards and the Florida Assessment of Student Thinking (FAST) test. This blog will explore how our assessment process works, its components, and how it helps students improve their reading abilities.

The Importance of Standardized Testing

Tutoring Club utilizes a nationally approved standardized test to evaluate students’ reading skills. This assessment is crucial for identifying specific areas where students may need support, allowing us to tailor our curriculum to meet their individual needs. The reading assessment can take 60-90 minutes, depending on the student’s skills.

Key Components of the Reading Assessment

The reading assessment at Tutoring Club focuses on several critical areas:

1. Mastery of the Alphabet: Understanding the alphabet is foundational for reading. We evaluate students’ recognition and understanding of letters.

2. Phonics Skills: Our assessment covers ten different phonics skills, ranging from consonant sounds to roots and affixes. This helps us determine how well students can decode words.

3. Fluency and Overall Reading Level: We assess how smoothly and accurately students read, which is essential for comprehension.

4. Vocabulary Skills: We test multiple types of vocabulary skills to ensure students can understand and use words effectively.

5. Comprehension Skills: Six specific comprehension skills are evaluated to gauge how well students understand what they read.

By pinpointing specific gaps in these areas, we can create a targeted approach to help each student improve.

Filling the Gaps with Tailored Curriculum

Once the assessment is completed, we implement a specific curriculum designed to fill identified gaps as quickly as possible. On average, students require about 32 hours of instruction per grade level to reach their reading goals.

The Importance of Advanced Learning

At Tutoring Club, we have found that many students who are on-level for reading often score around a C. To boost their confidence and foster a love for learning, we recommend that students work at least two grades ahead. This approach not only enhances their skills but also helps them develop a positive attitude towards reading and to easily score A’s on the tests and work.

A Success Story: Overcoming Challenges

One inspiring example of our program’s effectiveness is the owner’s daughter, who faced significant challenges in her early education. After being held back in 1st grade and scoring in the bottom 10% nationally, she was diagnosed with ADHD, Dyslexia, and was on the spectrum.

With the specific Tutoring Club reading curriculum and intensive at-home reading support, including audiobooks, she made remarkable progress. Within two years, she transformed her reading skills and, by 7th grade, scored in the top 96% nationally. This success story exemplifies how our assessment process allows us to identify gaps, fill them effectively, and help students enjoy reading, ultimately building their skills naturally.

Conclusion

The Tutoring Club reading assessment process is a vital tool in helping students succeed academically. By aligning our assessments with St Johns School Standards and focusing on individual needs, we can provide targeted support that leads to significant improvements in reading skills. If you’re interested in learning more about how we can help your child thrive, contact us today for a comprehensive assessment.