DIBELS Testing Education Families.com

Next week, my class will take the DIBELS test for the second time this year. My district has not been active in taking the DIBELS test for many years. The test does not draw as much attention as the state assessment and many parents are not even aware that it has been given. There are no pamphlets sent home or fancy official score sheets. Therefore, your child may be involved in DIBELS testing without your knowledge.

What is DIBELS?
The DIBELS (Dynamic Indicators of Basic Early Literacy Skills) is a district-mandated test given to kindergarten, first, and second grades in my school system. Third grade and up takes the state mandated assessment, the Terranova. The DIBELS originated at Oregon University and was designed to assess Phonological Awareness, Alphabetic Principle, and Fluency with Connected Text (three of the five big ideas of early literacy). Unlike the state assessment, DIBELS is given individually to each student. No part of the DIBELS test is given as a “whole group” test. The tests are very short and timed (one minute for each section). The test is timed in order to check fluency in addition to knowledge. As in its title and stated above, DIBELS is a literacy test. It measures pre-reading and early reading skills. There are no math or other subject area questions on the test. Each area of the test has a benchmark or goal for students to meet. If the goal is not met, progress-monitoring takes place until the test is given again and the student reaches the goal. Tests are typically administered three times a school year- beginning, middle, and end. The timing of the test allows for academic instructional feedback between testing.

Why Do Schools Use DIBELS?
Schools are more increasingly using DIBELS due to it being research based. The DIBELS has been tested extensively in real schools with real children. Data shows the test to be effective. Because of its beginning, middle, and end of the year design, DIBELS allows teachers to focus on specific skills that show weaknesses and then monitor the students’ growth on the next testing. Scores can quickly be produced at the school by the school staff. There is no waiting period for teachers to receive feedback.

What Skills are Assessed by DIBELS
Kindergarten students are tested on ISF: Initial Sound Fluency, LNF: Letter Naming Fluency, PSF: Phoneme Segmentation Fluency, and NWF: Nonsense Word Fluency. First grade students are tested on LNF, PSF, NWF, and ORF: Oral Reading Fluency. In second grade, students are only tested on ORF.

After my students take the DIBELS test and the scores are produced, I will begin to chart my students according to what areas they show a need for intervention in. I will also share the scores with parents.