Understanding RK Phonics Assessments

This article will guide you through the various RoboKind Phonics assessments, including the Pre-Assessment, Post-Assessment, and the Progress Monitoring Assessment.

Overview of RoboKind Phonics Assessments

RoboKind Phonics Assessments support learners by monitoring their mastery of three key Phonics skills: letter recognition, phonemic recall, and decoding closed-syllable words. Additionally, these assessments track a learner's attitude towards reading, providing a comprehensive view of their progress and areas needing improvement.

Accessing the Assessments

There are a total of 3 assessments.

• Pre-Assessment
• Monitoring Assessment
• Post-Assessment

When first entering the program with a new learner, we recommend completing the Pre-Assessment prior to any lessons. You will be prompted to complete the assessment but can also access it under "All Units". 

When a learner completes 10 phonics lessons, they will be prompted to take the Monitoring Assessment to track their progress. This will occur every 10 lessons.

After a learner completes all 4 units of the RoboKind Phonics curriculum, we recommend they take the assessment again, noted as Post Assessment. 

Preparing for the Assessments

Before each assessment begins, the robot/avatar will introduce each skill and explain what will happen during the assessment. This preparation also includes a practice session where the robot will “try” an example, and then have the learner try the task once before the actual assessment starts. The assessment will commence on the next slide when the teacher presses the “Start” button.

Portions in the Assessments

Each assessment evaluates three critical areas of Phonics:

• Letter naming recognition
• "Silly Word" Letter sound/short word decoding
• Learner's attitude towards reading

Letter Naming Recognition

In the correct letter recognition portion, learners say the name of the letter (not the sound). This assessment lasts for one minute. The teacher will follow along with the learner, marking each letter if it was read correctly or incorrectly. A green mark indicates the letter was named appropriately, while a red mark indicates it was not named appropriately, or if it was skipped. Teachers can correct any mistake marks by tapping the letter again on the righthand side of the screen.

"Silly Word" Letter sound/short word decoding

During the Silly Letter portion, learners must say each letter sound followed by the entire word. This assessment also lasts for one minute. As students decode each sound and the whole word, grade both the sounds and the entire word. Correctly read letters will automatically be marked in green. If a student reads a sound incorrectly, tap the letter to turn it red.

After the student decodes the sounds, indicate whether the whole word was read correctly, incorrectly, or skipped. Then, the next word will appear on the screen. If you make a mistake while grading a word, tap the “review words” button to view previous words and correct the grade.

Learner Reading Attitude Survey

The learner reading attitude survey consists of 20 questions that ask about feelings regarding different reading situations. This part of the assessment can be particularly challenging for learners on the autism spectrum, who might find it difficult to identify and express their feelings. Learners should do their best to select how they feel about each question. Since this part of the assessment is not timed, it may be beneficial for learners to take short breaks before and during the survey, and receive a preferred reward after completing it.

Timing and Frequency of Assessments

Learners should take the Pre-Assessment before starting the introductory lesson or any unit. At the end of all units or at the end of the school year, the Post-Assessment should be administered to evaluate progress and mastery of the skills. In addition to this assessment, there is a Progress Monitoring Assessment that only includes the first two parts (letter recognition and decoding) to help teachers track ongoing progress without the need for the full assessment.

By integrating these assessments into the Phonics curriculum, teachers can effectively monitor and support their learners' learning journey, ensuring they achieve the necessary skills for reading proficiency.