Who: DIBELS measures early literacy skills from kindergarten through sixth grade.

 

What: DIBELS is an early literacy instrument that is used to identify students who may be at risk for literacy problems. The assessment is made up of a series of short tests. The tests are examined to determine the progress of the students in their development of these skills.

 

When: Each student is tested at least three times a year. Students who do not reach their grade-level benchmark can be tested weekly, biweekly, or monthly to determine progress.

 

Why: DIBELS measures the early literacy skills, such as, phonemic awareness, phonics, fluency, vocabulary, and comprehension.

 

How: DIBELS can be assessed with pen and paper or electronically. The teacher is to use the DIBELS manual to read the instructions and guide the student through the assessment. The assessment is then scored and calculated into charts to show the student's greatest instructional needs.