Avenue KidSpeak

Oral Reading Fluency

What Is It?

KidSpeak is an app that can be downloaded for free from the App store. KidSpeak is used to measure oral reading fluency. An extensive research base is available on the technical characteristics of oral reading fluency as an indictor of reading comprehension. A list of references may be found on the Avenue login page under the Links to Documents button. Oral Reading Fluency measures are not recommended for use with students who are Deaf, or Hard of Hearing.

The Basics

KidSpeak is a one minute task. Students sign in and view a passage. The student reads the instructions: "Read aloud the passage on the screen. If you come to a word you do not know, skip the word and go to the next word. Read at a rate that is comfortable for you. When you're ready to start, push the green GO button and begin reading." The student clicks the DONE button to move to the next screen. When ready to begin reading out loud, the student clicks the GO button. The student's oral reading is recorded for one minute and saved. If the student continues to read after one minute the additional information is not recorded. The student can listen to the recording, try again, or submit the recording.

Grading

The recorded audio and a text of the passage are sent to the teacher for scoring. The scoring process and graphs are not available on the iPad. Students begin one level below the estimated reading level reported by the teacher. If the student completes 6 passages meeting the goal within that level, the teacher may elect to move the student to the next level. The goal for each reading level is based on a number of studies among a representative sample of general education students. Scoring is a quick and easy process. The score is the number of words read correctly in one minute with expression. KidSpeak calculates the the total number of words read correctly in one minute. To view Directions for scoring, select KS, then Score KS Passages. Now click the Show Instructions button.

Progress Monitoring

Teachers, students, and parents can review the student's scores on the data graphs by clicking on the History button. The students scores are automatically recorded on a graph. Avenue records the data in a visual graphic display and a printable data table. The goal for each reading level is based on research conducted by Hasbrouck and Tisdale. A chart depicting the reading levels and lexiles for each level is available on the Avenue login page under the Links to Documents button. Passages within each level are approximately equivalent in difficulty. Students' oral reading fluency may vary depending on the students' background knowledge, vocabulary, and motivation. Using scores across four to six passages provides a robust database for decision-making.