Let’s talk assessments and get straight to the point: We can’t have meaningful, effective instruction without assessments.  If instruction is the sail of a boat, assessments are the winds that drive and guide it.  Before we can teach effectively, we need to know the needs of our students as well as their capabilities. Let’s chat! Assessments are important because they: identify strengths and weaknesses Inform instruction track progress guide intervention support differentiation inform curriculum planning Tools and Resources Check out my Phonics Quick Checks for the best starting place!  They are easy to use and, yep, you guessed it - quick!   Check out my Phonemic Awareness Screener for free! My Phonics Screener for Units 2-4 assesses both decoding and encoding. Also check out my Letter Name/Sound Check (5 Word CVC).   Remember that reading is not a race - it’s a journey.  When we embrace ongoing assessments in our classroom as well as data-driven instruction, we can ensure that we are delivering the best possible instruction to our students - no matter where they are.  Full show notes here!