Throughout the year, teachers constantly assess their students’ abilities and progress in the different subjects they are learning. One of the ways that they do this is through the Dynamic Indicators of Basic Early Literacy Skills tests.

At Tharptown Elementary School, faculty and administrators recently took the time to recognize kindergarten through fourth-grade students who had the most improved DIBELS scores on their mid-year assessments.

“We want to motivate each student as they learn each day to perform at his or her best ability not only in reading but in all subject areas. (We want them) to feel proud and successful that they will be able to accomplish their goals and dreams in life,” reading specialist Susie Stockton said.

The DIBELS tests provide educators with standards for gauging the progress of all of their students and determining what is necessary for them to become successful readers.

Stockton said at the middle of the year, the test focuses mostly on the Letters Naming Fluency, Nonsense Word Fluency and Oral Reading Fluency scores. These tests show students’ knowledge of letters, ability to blend letters into words and ability to read and understand passages correctly.

“Students at TES are challenged to meet their benchmark goals in each measure assessed at the middle and the end of the school year,” Stockton said.

These tests help teachers determine if and which students will require more intensive instruction to prevent them from struggling to become successful readers.

The most improved are as follows:

• Kindergarten – Kayle Thornton, Arlita White, Brayden Avalos and Diego Luna
• First grade – Grace Parker, Leah Davis, Trey Long and J. W. Williams
• Second grade – Cayden Porter, Kaitlyn Vasquez, Landyn Fisher and Lizzie Flippo
• Third grade – Zillah Ibarra, Joshua Bahena and Katie Ponce
• Fourth grade – Addisyn Hatton, Giselle Sarabia, Tommy Sanchez and Braycen Johnson