Assessing the Student's Concepts about Print

For this assessment, sit with the student in a quiet place, and use a short picture book from your classroom. The print should be large enough and the words spaced far enough apart that you can easily see where a child is pointing. The book should also have a variety of punctuation marks.


1.




 Does the student know the concept of front of the book?
Hand book to the student in a vertical position, spine towards child.
Say, "Show me the front of this book".
Check the box if answer is correct.

2.




 

Does the student know that the print not the picture is the part to be read?
Open to the first page of text. There should be a picture on this page.
Say, "I will read this book to you. Show me where to read."
Check the box if student points to first word on top left of pg.

3.


 Does the student know which way to read?
 Turn to the second page of the book.
Say, "Point to where I start reading."
 Check the box if student points to print somewhere on the first page.

4.

 

Does the student know that print is read from left to right?
Say, "Which way do I go?"
Check the box if student moves finger from left to right.

5.


 Does the student know at the end of the line to return to the next line?
Say, "Where do I go after that?"
Check the box if student "return sweeps" to the left.

6.

 

 

Does the student have one-to-one match with voice to print?
Say, "Point to the words as I read."
Check the box if student matches your voice to the print as you read.
7.

Does the student understand the concept of first and last?
Turn to a new page.
Say, "Show me the first part of this story."
Say, "Show me the last part of this story."
Check the box if student points to any of the following combinations:

the first and last words on a line
the first and last words in a sentence
the first and last words on a page
the first and last words in the book
8.



 Does the student know that the left page is read before the right page?
Turn the page so that there is a left and right page to read.
Say, "Where do I start reading?"
Check the box if student points to the left page.
9.

Does the student know the meaning of a question mark?
Point to a question mark in the text.
Say, "What is this for?"
Check the box if student says, "question mark" or "when you ask something."
10.

Does the student know the meaning of a period?
Point to a period in the text.
Say, "What is this for?"
Check the box if student says "period" or at the end of the sentence."

Concepts About Print

Where to begin writing or reading, going from left to right

Where to go after the end of the line (return sweep)

The print, not the picture, carries the message

Word by word pointing (one-to-one correspondence

Concept of a letter, word, sentence

Concept of first and last part (of the word, sentence, story)

Letter order in words is important

There are first and last letters in words

Upper and lower case letters have purpose

Different punctuation marks have meaning