Effective Literacy Assessment in the Montessori Classroom : Using Data to Inform Instruction

This book helps Montessori educators and administrators, especially those working in publicly funded schools, address state legislation requiring approved curriculum aligned to the science of reading.

From the authors of Powerful Literacy in the Montessori Classroom, this new book focuses on the practical implementation of Montessori teaching and assessment methods in pre-K–6^th grade classrooms. The authors describe how reading research and Montessori’s scientific pedagogy and language curriculum play out in actual classrooms through concrete examples of structured literacy instruction.

Using the timeline of a typical school year as a framework, the book contains three primary sections: (1) Starting the School Year: Setting the Stage So Reading Improves for Every Student; (2) All School Year Long: Integrating Data, Progress Monitoring, and Instruction to Maximize Reading Success for All Students; and (3) Wrapping Up the School Year: Prioritizing, Keeping On, and Defining Next Steps. Each section contains an overview of current research and theory to inform assessments and literacy goals prioritized at these key points across the academic year. Chapters feature activities, assessments, and case studies adapted from diverse Montessori classrooms.

Book Features:

• Shows what the Montessori curriculum looks like when reading research, currently known as “the science of reading,” is implemented.
• Demonstrates how lessons, a comprehensive assessment system, and logistics work in a real-world setting.
• Defines the Montessori curriculum as both comprehensive and integrated, showing that materials for building reading skills, background knowledge, and vocabulary are found throughout the classroom through a single curriculum.
• Supports all educators interested in meeting reading legislation.

Natasha Feinberg is an associate professor in the Elementary Education Department at Rhode Island College. Susan Zoll is an author, Montessori researcher, and educator who serves on the American Montessori Society's Research Committee. Laura Saylor is dean of the School of Education at Mount St. Joseph University.