Initial Assessment for Emergent or Non-Readers

1. Ability to recite the alphabet:
   for correct response, O for omission.

   A		B
   C		D
   E		F
   G		H
   I		J
   K		L
   M		N
   O		P
   Q		R
   S		T
   U		V
   W		X
   Y		Z

2. Here the letter cards should be put in the same order as below. Show the cards to the child one at a time. Ask for letter name, the sound the letter makes in a word, and ask the child to name a word that starts with the letter.

   	correct letter or record incorrect response	correct sounds or record sound given	record word given	check here for omission
   r
   e
   g
   q
   m
   a
   b
   f
   k
   p
   l
   w
   z
   h
   d
   s
   i
   v
   u
   c
   y
   n
   j
   o
   t
   x

3. Ask the child to write all the letters on a blank piece of paper.
4. Auditory discrimination of beginning sounds.
   Ask the child to name the pictures and circle the pictures that begin with the same sound.
   
   

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5. Auditory discrimination of ending sounds.
   Ask the child to name the pictures and circle the pictures that end with the same sound.
   
   

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6. Auditory discrimination of common phonemes.
   Have the child name the pictures.
   Ask, "Which one ends with 'og'?"
   
   

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   "Which one ends with 'an'?"
   
   

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   "Which one ends with 'op'?"
   

7. Have the child name the pictures, and ask the child to circle the two that rhyme.
   

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8. Prepare word cards with the words listed below. Ask the child to read the words one at a time. Mark with a for a correct response, record word given if the response is incorrect.

   a		up		some
   I		my		to
   is		me		go
   the		and		be
   am		see
   can		book

9. Ask the child to write down all the words he/she knows on a blank piece of paper.
10. Ask the child to write a sentence on a blank piece of paper that you dictate, such as, "The cat will run here to eat the food." Repeat as many times as necessary.

11. After introducing an appropriate book, record the child's responses to these directions.
    1. Where is the front of the book?
    2. Open the book to the first page.
    3. What are these (point to the words)? What are they for?
    4. Point to the words as I read them. (Read the page and see if the child turns the page when you finish.)
    Finish reading the book to the child, or finish reading it together. Ask the child to tell you what the book was about and/or to restate the sequence of events. Record responses.