How to Administer an Informal Reading Inventory: Step by Step Example

How to Administer an Informal Reading Inventory: Step by Step Example

Are you a teacher or educator who wants to assess students’ reading levels? One effective way to do this is by administering an informal reading inventory (IRI). This type of assessment can help you to identify each student’s strengths and weaknesses in reading, which can be useful in planning instruction.

In this article, we will provide you with a step-by-step example of how to administer an IRI effectively. We’ll offer insights into what types of questions to ask, how to select appropriate passages, and how to interpret the results.

Step 1: Select Appropriate Passages

To administer an IRI, you will need to select several reading passages for the student to read. These passages should be at different levels of difficulty, ranging from easy to challenging. To determine the student’s reading level accurately, you’ll need to select passages that accurately reflect their current reading abilities.

When selecting the passages, choose ones that are related to the student’s interests or life experiences. For example, if you know a student enjoys playing soccer, you can select a passage that discusses soccer.

Step 2: Ask Appropriate Questions

As the student reads the passages, you’ll need to ask them appropriate questions about what they’ve read. These questions should be suitable for the student’s reading level and should assess their comprehension skills.

For younger or lower-level students, you could ask questions like “what was the main idea of the passage?” or “who are the main characters?” You could also ask questions that require the student to make connections between the passage and their own experiences, such as “have you ever done something similar to what the character did in the story?”

For older or higher-level students, you could ask questions that require them to analyze or evaluate the passage. For example, you could ask them to compare and contrast two characters in the story or to explain the author’s message.

Step 3: Score the Assessment

After the student has completed the readings and answered the questions, you’ll need to score the assessment. Typically, informal reading inventories use a miscue analysis method, which involves looking for errors or “miscues” that the student makes while reading.

You can use a scoring chart to track the various types of miscues the student makes and determine their overall reading level. You can then use this information to plan appropriate instruction to improve the student’s reading skills.

Conclusion

Administering an informal reading inventory is an effective way to assess students’ reading levels. By selecting appropriate passages, asking appropriate questions, and scoring the assessment correctly, you can gain valuable insights into the student’s reading skills. With this information, you can plan instruction that meets the needs of each student and helps them to improve their reading abilities.

Speech tips:

Please note that any statements involving politics will not be approved.