 | What is the TOSCRF?
The Test of Silent Contextual Reading Fluency [TOSCRF] is a research-based, timed assessment. The test measures the speed at which students recognize individual words in a series of passages.
A sample passage appears below:
AYELLOWBIRDWITHBLUEWINGSSATONMOTHERSPRETTYHAT
Students are given three minutes to draw lines between as many words as they recognize.
A l YELLOW l BIRD l WITH l BLUE l WINGS l SAT l ON l MOTHERS l PRETTY l HAT
 Why is BPS using this particular test?
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The TOSCRF is easy to interpret; it provides teachers with grade level and (reading) age equivalents for each student based on their standard scores. -
The TOSCRF allows flexibility in administration; it can be administered individually or whole group. -
The TOSCRF is quick; including the time necessary to explain the directions and complete the practice items, it takes approximately 10 minutes to administer.
| | Who takes the TOSCRF and when?
The TOSCRF is given to all students in the ELA I, English 9 (LANGUAGE!), ELA II, and English 10 (LANGUAGE!) courses. It is administered during a window in the fall and then again in the spring during regularly scheduled ELA periods. Students who are absent during whole class administration should take it at another point in time during the testing window.
Fall = ELA I and English 9 students take Form A
Fall = ELA II and English 10 students take Form C
Spring = ELA I and English 9 students take Form B
Spring = ELA II and English 10 students take Form D
| | What do I need to do to prepare for testing?
Instructors administering the test need:
- an appropriate student form for each student tested,
- a stopwatch,
- an examiner’s manual,
- pens for each student.
Instead of asking students to fill in their own information, some schools elect to use pre-printed labels.
| | What do I need to do after testing?
Completed tests are submitted to the ELA Department for scoring. It is imperative that the correct information has been filled in completely at the top of each student test and that the student’s ID is noted on the test. Please refer to the guidelines sent by the ELA Department for further information.
| | What do I do with the results?
The TOSCRF provides useful information about a student’s ability to recognize printed words and their meanings and to use syntax and morphology to understand the meaning of written sentences. The level of difficulty is the same on all four equivalent forms - A, B, C, and D – so teachers can note overall progress/lack of progress in fluency and comprehension for each student between the two administrations. Student results can also be used to pair students with appropriately leveled texts for independent reading.
In addition, though students require further testing to pinpoint the exact cause of reading impairment, teachers can use the data to help identify: - which students may benefit from support in fluency and explicit instruction in comprehension and metacognitive skills
- which students need to receive extra support through AIS,
- which students will need acceleration, and
- how upperclass teachers will differentiate materials and instruction for identified students
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