Episode 11:Assessing Listening Comprehension
In this episode, Amber and Brian focus on why and how listening comprehension should be assessed alongside word reading. They explain what listening comprehension assessments should measure, how they differ from reading comprehension assessments, and why early identification of listening comprehension needs is critical.
Listeners learn how assessment can inform instruction and help teachers better understand student strengths and needs.
Key Takeaways
Listening comprehension should be assessed using oral text, not written text.
Assessing listening comprehension helps identify students who may read fluently but struggle to understand.
Strong assessments examine both shallow comprehension and deeper comprehension.
Informal classroom questioning during read-alouds can provide meaningful assessment data.
Formal screeners and diagnostic tools can help identify specific areas of need.
Listening comprehension assessment supports more accurate instructional decisions for all students.
What’s Next
In the next episode, Amber and Brian explore how to support multilingual learners by strengthening listening comprehension.
Episode Resources
Website: https://www.listeningcomprehension.org
Organization: Read Charlotte https://www.readcharlotte.org
Word Reading and Listening Comprehension 2x2 Matrix:
Production Notes
Voices are AI generated
Script developed with AI technology support
Content reflects research curated by Read Charlotte
References
August, D., & Shanahan, T. (2006). Developing literacy in second-language learners: Report of the National Literacy Panel on Language-Minority Children and Youth. Lawrence Erlbaum Associates.
Institute of Education Sciences. (2020). Evaluation of North Carolina’s K–3 reading assessments. U.S. Department of Education.
Young-Suk Grace Kim. (2020). Toward integrative reading science: The Direct and Indirect Effects Model of Reading (DIER). Journal of Learning Disabilities, 53(6), 469–491. https://doi.org/10.1177/0022219420908239
Mancilla-Martinez, J. (2020). Language and reading comprehension in bilingual learners. Reading Research Quarterly.
Shanahan, T. (2017). What maze tests really measure. Shanahan on Literacy.