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Z-Screener

Kirsten Cerroni

September 27, 2011 15:27

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I read somewhere that 2nd graders should be able to accurately read 50% of the items on the Z-screener. My client achieved 50% on the first section, followed by 80% on the second, 70% on the 3rd, 60% on the 4th, 100% on the 5th, and 30% on the 6th section. Then the test was discontinued.  I know I should have discontinued the test earlier, but I was curious.  When I enter his responses on the on-line clinician version, I get a score of 5%.  My question is, what does the 5% score mean? The test of course discontinues after the first section.  So, it is supposing that if continued, he would fail all the following sections and achieve 5% correct on the entire test? 

Also, he is a 2nd grader. So how do I interpret the "2nd graders should achieve 50% correct" - is this if the entire test was administered? 

Any help is appreciated! Thank you!

 

Kirsten 

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2 comments

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  Sandie Barrie-Blackley September 27, 2011 16:37

  Kirsten~

  Yes, the online test is set so that it discontinues after the child misses 5 words at any level. The assumption is that if the child misses 5 at a level s/he really can not consistently read word at or past that level. We are assuming that a child who misses 5 at a level will not miraculously begin reading words at the next level accurately. Dr. Linda Lombardino at the U. of Florida is researching this assumption with regard to the Z-Screener, so until her research is published it is reasonable to administer the whole test to each child.  I actually don't do that, though, because I what mainly use the Z-Screener as an indicator or where to start the child in treatment (i.e., at what Lexercise Level) ...and missing 5 at a level suggests to me we need to start there!!

  The guideline that 2nd graders should read at least 50% of these Z-words accurately is very conservative. We gave that guideline because we didn't want to over-reach and we figure that most of the time there will be another measure (like the San Diego Quick Assessment) that will help clinicians interpret the results. But, the closed syllable-short vowel pattern is the most frequent syllable type in English and it should be mastered by first grade. These Z-words all have this very simple, closed syllable structure but even adults with dyslexia find them difficult.

  The 5% means that he read 5% of the words on the 107 words on the test accurately. (See on the Clinicians' Z-Screener form, at the very bottom , where it says " Total percent accuracy." ) To interpret what this means I suggest that you just look at the Z-words your client missed and ask yourself: "Should a 2nd grader be able to read syllable structures like these? "  For example, if "zig" is read with a with a "long -i-", as if it rhymed with the first syllable in "tiger" or  <zeg> read as  /zig/....is that a problem? (I think 2nd... and probably 1st.... grade teachers whould say, "Yes, it is a problem!")   If your client is having this kind of  trouble a complete language processing battery is indicated.  See the Lexercise Forums for our recommended process-oriented battery. (Searching the Forums for "process" or "assessment" will get this article.) 

  Here is a good article about identification of reading problems and a good article on syllable types.

  Warm regards,

  Sandie

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  Leslie Chalmers Gravel December 19, 2011 19:34

  I administer the Z-screener because I find that it catches problems that the San Diego and TOWRE sometimes don't.  I do have another question about it though about the /a/ syllables in the Z-Screener: what if a client pronounces them as as in "cat" rather than as in "father"?