Part 1: A New Assessment Tool for Teachers – Listening to Reading, Watching While Writing Protocol
In the ever-evolving landscape of education, assessment tools that effectively capture the nuances of student learning are invaluable. One such tool, recently developed by Nell Duke and her team (Ward and Klingelhofer), is the "Listening to Reading, Watching While Writing" protocol. This innovative assessment tool, available for free to educators, offers a fresh, informal approach to understanding students' reading and writing processes. Here, we'll break down how this tool works, why it's important, and what it means for teachers in their daily instructional practice.
What is the Listening to Reading, Watching While Writing Protocol?
The protocol, developed between 2020 and 2023, is designed as a formative assessment tool that can be used within the natural flow of classroom instruction. It allows teachers to observe and assess both reading and writing in real-time. This is important because it acknowledges the reciprocal relationship between reading and writing – the idea that skills learned in one area can inform and support the other.
Unlike traditional assessments, this tool doesn't replace formal assessments such as standardised tests or running records. Instead, it fills the gap between those formal assessments by helping teachers notice, observe, and respond to key aspects of students' literacy development on a day-to-day basis.
A Teacher as Researcher Approach
One of the standout features of this protocol is that it positions the teacher as a researcher. This means teachers aren't just gathering information about their students—they're actively analysing it to make informed, on-the-spot instructional decisions. Imagine observing a student struggling with a particular word while reading, and instead of simply noting it for later, you immediately teach them a strategy to overcome that difficulty. This type of responsive teaching is the heart of the protocol.
Teachers often face the challenge of knowing what to assess in reading and writing. The protocol helps guide these observations, giving teachers a framework for identifying and responding to the most important aspects of a child's literacy journey. It's not about gathering mountains of data—it's about what you do with the information in that moment.
What Makes This Protocol Unique?
- Observation-Based: Unlike standardised assessments that are typically conducted outside of regular instruction, this tool emphasises real-time observation. Teachers observe students as they are reading or writing, which allows them to see exactly what a child is doing, struggling with, or succeeding at in that moment.
- Reciprocity of Reading and Writing: The protocol emphasises that reading and writing are intertwined. For example, the vocabulary a student uses in their writing often reflects their reading comprehension and vice versa. The protocol encourages teachers to observe both areas simultaneously, creating a holistic view of a student's literacy skills.
- On-the-Spot Teaching: Perhaps the most powerful aspect of this tool is that it allows teachers to act immediately on their observations. In traditional assessments, teachers collect data, analyze it, and then plan future instruction. With this tool, the observation leads directly to instructional decisions—often within the same lesson. This means that teaching becomes more dynamic and responsive to student needs.
- Not a Formal Test: Importantly, the protocol is not about giving students a grade or level. It's about guiding instruction. There are no scores or labels—just insights that help teachers decide what to teach next.
Addressing Common Teacher Struggles
Teachers often express that it's difficult to know what to focus on when assessing reading and writing. This protocol provides clarity by pointing out specific aspects of literacy development to look for, such as:
- Word identification strategies
- Comprehension monitoring
- Fluency
- Vocabulary choices in writing
- Sentence construction
By honing in on these areas, teachers can avoid feeling overwhelmed by the many facets of literacy and instead focus on key teaching moments that will move students forward.
A Dynamic Tool for Real-Time Learning
The flexibility of the protocol is another key benefit. It isn't a rigid, one-size-fits-all tool. In fact, Duke and her team welcome feedback and suggestions from teachers who are using it in classrooms. This makes it a "living" tool, one that can evolve with input from educators on the front lines.
The protocol's design also encourages teachers to use it in a way that is most helpful for them and their students. It's not just another item on the to-do list—it's a practical resource that supports the flow of instruction and helps teachers connect with their students as readers and writers.
Bridging the Gap Between Assessment and Instruction
Ultimately, this tool helps teachers shift from seeing assessment as a separate task to viewing it as part of their everyday teaching. The observation process becomes integrated into daily lessons, allowing teachers to make quick, informed decisions that directly impact student learning.
This brings us back to an essential question: What is assessment really for? Is it just about collecting data for reports and charts, or is it about understanding students in a way that helps them grow? The "Listening to Reading, Watching While Writing" protocol makes it clear that assessment should be about humanity—it's about learning from and with our students to guide them on their journey as readers and writers.
Conclusion
The Listening to Reading, Watching While Writing protocol offers a fresh, teacher-centred approach to assessment. It's an informal, formative tool that helps teachers observe, reflect, and respond to student learning in real time. By integrating this into daily classroom practice, teachers can create a more dynamic, responsive, and student-focused learning environment. Stay tuned for Part 2 of this exploration, where we'll dive deeper into how teachers are tailoring the protocol to meet their unique classroom needs.
In the meantime, if you're curious about the protocol, you can easily find it online by searching "Listening to Reading, Watching While Writing protocol." It's an exciting new resource that can truly transform the way you assess and support your students in their literacy journey.