First Grade Reading Test (End of Year)

This story is from Reading Mastery II Fast Cycle Lesson 170, the last lesson in the Direct Instruction first grade reading curriculum.

By the end of first grade, the average child should be able to read this story. If that child were in the Fast Cycle Curriculum he would definitely have mastered the skills necessary to read this story. This is a fact which has been validated through extensive research and field tested on thousands of students.

For below average students (and I'm talking 20th percentile and below), they should be able to read this passage by the end of second grade at the latest.

If your child is not able to read this story there is only one conclusion to draw: he was not taught how to read properly. He’s not “learning disabled,” stupid, a different learner, or whatever other excuse the schools are using today. It’s not his fault; it’s the school’s fault. They selected a rotten reading curriculum and failed to teach effectively. So if you’re looking for someone to blame, now you know.

Leaving the Land of Peevish Pets

Jean had found out fifteen rules. The last rule she found out told about making the wizard disappear. She needed only one more rule. So she sat down and began to think. Suddenly, she jumped up. She said, “I’ve got it. Every time I needed help, the wizard appeared. I think that’s the rule. I’ll find out.” She stood and yelled, “I need help.”

Suddenly, the wizard appeared. Jean said, “I think I know all of the rules. I know how to make you appear. Here’s the rule: if you want the wizard to appear, call for help.”

“Good,” the wizard said.

Then Jean said, “So now I can leave this peevish land of peevish pets.”

“That is right,” the wizard said. “You have found out all the rules. So you may leave. Just close your eyes.”

Jean closed her eyes. Suddenly, she felt something licking her face.

She opened her eyes. She was in bed. Her mom and dad were standing near the bed, and there was a puppy on the bed. He was licking Jean’s face. He was black and brown and white. And he had a long tail. He was very pretty. Jean hugged him.

“Can I keep him?” she asked. “Can I, please?”

“He’s your puppy,” her mom said. Jean hugged the puppy harder. The puppy licked her face again.

Jean’s mom said, “Somebody left this puppy for you. There was a note with him.”

Jean’s dad handed the note to Jean. The note said: “This dog is for Jean. His name is Wizard. And here is the rule about wizard: If you love and play with him, he will grow up to be the best dog in the land.”

Jean was so happy that tears were running down her cheeks. She said, “Thank you, Wizard. Thank you very much.”

She followed the rule, and her dog Wizard did become the very best dog in the land.

Since this is Kitchen table Math I feel compelled to tie in math to this post. The difference between the reading level of this passage and your child's reading level is a measure of your school's incompetence in teaching reading. The difference is the penalty you are paying for allowing your school to use a substandard instructional program.

-- KDeRosa - 15 Dec 2005

Comments

It's a good thing to take the definition and calibration of results and expectations out of the hands of those producing (or not) the results.

Our state's testing is selected and calibrated by the public school hierarchy. Our public schools are rated as "High Performing". The schools use MathLand followed by CMP.

-- SteveH - 15 Dec 2005

Speaking of ktm being about math, I was thinking about talking to Carolyn about a name change. I'm obviously going to have to be figuring out writing (did I mention that the principal actually told us that the 7th and 8th grade writing instruction is worse?)

We may have to call it Kitchen Table Everything.

-- CatherineJohnson - 15 Dec 2005

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