A: The LGL Reading Assessment tests reading skills. Even though there are many different ways to think about reading instruction, it's a general industry consensus that each reader must have the ability to 1) sound out words 2) memorize words and 3) understand words well enough to make contextual guesses when necessary. The LGL Reading Assessment tests all three of these areas using six subtests. These subtests; High Frequency Word Subtest, Word Recognition Subtest, Word Analysis Subtest, Word Meaning Subtest, Spelling Subtest and Silent Reading Subtest, are designed to target a specific reading skill.

Q: What is the reading Instruction option (Unique Reader)?

A: The reading Instruction option (called Unique Reader) is an additional feature that can be added to an LGL Reading Assessment account. It can be purchased outright or later on easily. It ties reading instruction (preK-5) into our assessment. The way it works is that once a student finishes an assessment, if they need additional instruction in the area of PreK-5 reading, then our assessment will automatically recommend instruction. The student will placed into 4 tracks according to their reading abilities as determined by our assessment. The parent or teacher can override our recommendation and place the student at either a easier instructional level or more difficult. The tracks of instruction are: Sight-words (high-frequency words), Phonics, Vocabulary, and Comprehension.

Q: Tell me more about the Unique Reader option?

A: The reading instruction option is called Unique Reader. It adds an additional tabbed page in your master account once you log-in. You will be able to view all your students or children in this new list. You also have a link on this page to view all the lessons yourself. See our family and teacher product pages for more information on Unique Reader. (Family products, Teacher Products)

Q: How is this assessment different from other reading assessments?

A: This assessment will give a very detailed account of how the user is achieving in all areas of reading. Lots of reading assessments report back a single reading grade level. Knowing that a reader is at a certain grade level is good but more detailed information is better and more helpful to designing effective instruction. For example some reading assessments might report that your 4th grade son is at a 2nd grade reading level. A more detailed assessment, like the LGL Reading Assessment, would report on how well the user can sound out words compared with how well they can memorize words compared with how well they read words in the context of sentences. In addition, spelling information may be included.Our assessment covers tests skills in the range of 1st to 8th grade. Another difference is that many assessment promote the fact that they can assess a student in as little as 10 minutes or some other short duration of time. To this claim all we can say is that you get what you pay for. There is no short cutting an assessment. A short assessment probably only looks at 1 or at best 2 sub skills of reading and then generalizes the results as the students entire ability. This in our opinion leads to incorrect diagnosis and will short change the student or child.

Q: Who should take this assessment?

A: Anyone who is having a hard time with reading can take this assessment. If the user is younger than 1st grade or does not know letters and sounds, this assessment may be too difficult and may not report scores that would be helpful to

you.

Q: How old do you have to be to take this assessment?

A: We recommend users be at least a first grader. This assessment will not be useful for students who do not yet know their letters and sounds.

Q: Is there an age limit?

A: There are no age limits. Adults from every walk of life have difficulty with reading. Studies show that 20-30% of the world's population has weakness in the processing abilities necessary for reading. Taking an online assessment can give anyone the dignity and privacy they may desire. Currently our assessment tests reading from the 1st to 8th grade in ability.

Q: What are the technology requirements?

A: The LGL Reading Assessment is administered over the Internet. This means that an Internet connected computer is required. The LGL Reading Assessment works well with Microsoft Internet Explorer or Netscape Navigator. See table below for exact versions. You may use either a Macintosh or Windows operating system. If you want to update your browser, you can go to http://www.microsoft.com/ or http://www.netscape.com/ for a free update. You will also need the free Macromedia Flash plug-in installed in your browser. The Flash plug-in may have been automatically installed when you install your browser. Check to see if you have Flash 5.

The LGL Reading Assessment also requires a computer with sound capability and at least a 56K modem. A faster connection, like a cable modem, an ISDN or a DSL will improve performance but is not required.

Q: How long does the assessment take?

A: We estimate that the assessment will take about an hour. It may be a bit shorter or a bit longer. As with any diagnostic assessment, the length of the assessment will depend on the performance of the user. For example, most assessments have a starting point determined by the age of the user. Once the user begins the assessment, they will continue forward through the test depending on how well they are performing. If a user does poorly at their grade level, the assessment may take the user backwards through the test until the reaches a level mastery. Depending on the user this may go quickly or slowly.

Q: Can my child stop in the middle of the test and come back later to finish?

A: Yes. The test will end if you close the browser window in the middle of the test. You must go back to www.letsgolearn.com to log in and begin the test again. We recommend that users perform the assessment in one sitting. If the user must break up the assessment, we recommend the user complete the assessment within one week.

Q: How do I get the assessment results?

A: When the user is done with the test. You must go to http://www.letsgolearn.com/ and log-in with your user name and password. Click on "Assessment Report." You will see an online version of the report. For printing, click on the "Printable Version" button and print it out as a PDF document. If you do not have Acrobat Reader 4.05 or later (necessary to download a PDF document) please click here for a free download. You can log-in to print that report as many times as you wish. If you are having trouble viewing the detailed report click here.

Q: Is there a volume discount?

A: Yes, for the Homeschool product you can buy up to 10 units of tests. They will be stored as credits in your account. For the education product depending on the size of the group there is site licensing. Please contact our customer service department at (510) 558-8844 or toll free (888) 618-READ or via e-mail: sales@letsgolearn.com. You may also contact our sales partners to order site licensing. Sales Partners.

Q: Can I call or e-mail someone if I need help?

A: Yes. Please feel free to call us anytime between 9amPST and 5pmPST at 1(888) 618-READ. We welcome your questions, comments or ideas. Or you can email us any time at this address: info@letsgolearn.com.

Q: How do the Homeschool and Educator LGL Reading Assessments differ?

A: The LGL Homeschool Reading Assessment is aimed at the parent who is either homeschooling their child or the parent who wants to find out in detail how their child is reading. The master account that they set up can accommodate a maximum of 4 children. Each child can still take as many tests as they want and all reports will be stored online, however, only 4 children's records can be stored.

Accordingly with the LGL Reading Assessment for schools, there is no limit to how many students that can be added. Also additional reports are available. In addition to a report for parents, there is a report for tutors and a condensed report for teachers. Group organizing tools will be available that will allow a teacher to sort their students by reading subskills. This will facilitate grouping students for specific reading lessons in the classroom. Finally, multi-tiered account access will be available. If a teacher has a tutor they can grant them access to student records. Likewise, a principal or superintendent can be given access to either school wide or district wide data. Additional reporting products will be available in Q2 of 2003 for schools and districts.

Q: Having trouble viewing detailed reports?

A: In order to view detailed reports our system requires that you have the "free" Acrobat Reader 4.05 (or later) as well as the Acrobat Reader PDF browser plug-in properly installed. For Microsoft XP operating system users you must have Acrobat 5.05 or later

If you are not sure of your Acrobat situation follow these steps below:

Step 1: Open your copy of Acrobat Reader on your computer. Check the version. On Macintosh go to the "Apple" menu and choose "About Acrobat". On Windows go to the "Help" menu and choose "About Acrobat."

Step 2: If you have version 4.0 or earlier, your version is too old. Click here to upgrade.
If you are using Microsoft XP as your operating system AND are using Acrobat Reader 5.0, then you need Acroat Reader 5.05. Click here to update your 5.0 version.
If you have version 4.05, then the PDF browser plug-in is not working. Click here to upgrade.
Otherwise, if you have Acrobat 5.0 or later, close your browser, open Acrobat by itself. Upon launch it will perform a PDF browser plug-in check. Be sure to select the correct browser if you computer has multiple web browsers loaded on it. If the check does not occur go to step 4.

Step 3: Close all software open on your computer. Relaunch your web browser and log back into Let's Go Learn. See if you can view the reports now.

Step 4: If you still cannot view your reports, e-mail us and we will e-mail you a version of the report as a stand alone PDF file which you will be able to open with Acrobat 3.0 or later.

Another factor that can interfere with the viewing of our PDF reports in your browser is software that manages file downloading. "RealDownload" is one application that will interfere! Go to the tools and options of RealDownload and disable the "enable browser integration" feature.