ReadWriteThink Graphic Map as an Assessment Tool

If an effective assessment is to help inform a teacher’s practice few would argue that a score on a reading test is enough.  By having students use the Graphic Map offered on the Student Materials Index of the ReadWriteThink site, teachers gather a more complete picture of the student as a reader. 

In selecting high and low values associated with a particular reading experience it allows students to name examples of success and name situations where they felt less successful.

Consider the following uses of this tool to learn more about your students as readers:

• Invite students to list books that have been memorable to them.  Keep in mind students may have negative memories associated with a book that have more to do with them as readers than the book. This provides a safe way for students to name these experiences. 

You may want to ask students to name these memories across one school year or several depending on the purpose.  The tool offers the space to explain the value users have assigned to the experience.  The completed map provides a picture of the reader not told in test score alone.

• Build on these portraits of students as readers through the ReadWriteThink lesson plan, Developing Reading Plans to Support Independent Reading.

This lesson asks students to analyze their graphic map to determine patterns in their reading.  Based on those patterns and in conferencing with the teacher, students play a role in developing individual reading plans.

• To view all a complete list of lessons that use the Graphic Map visit the Graphic Map Card.