PALS-PreK

Overview

Administration & Scoring

Training

Ordering

Questions & Answers

What is PALS?

Phonological Awareness Literacy Screening A measure of young children’s understanding of

emergent literacy fundamentals A direct means of matching early literacy instruction

to specific literacy needs A means of recognizing those children who are

relatively behind in their emergent literacy development

PALS-PreK HistoryDeveloped as part of the Virginia Preschool

Initiative

2000 Original PALS-PreK released

2004 Revised PALS-PreK released

Administered to over 13,000 children in Virginia in each of the last two years

PALS-PreK Administration

One-on-one, administered by teacher Conducted Fall & Spring Alphabet Knowledge section takes about

5-10 minutes per child

Teacher’s Manual

Child Packet

Print and Word Awareness Booklet

Beginning Sound Cards

Child Summary Sheet

Teacher Checklist of Literacy Practices

Sections Oral Language and Vocabulary Phonological Awareness Print functions and Units Writing Knowledge of the Alphabet General Practices

PALS-PreK Tasks

Name WritingAlphabet Knowledge

Upper-case Alphabet RecognitionLower-case Alphabet RecognitionLetter Sounds

Beginning Sound AwarenessPrint and Word AwarenessRhyme AwarenessNursery Rhyme Awareness

Maximum score = 7

Score= 0

Score=2

Name Writing

Score=5

Alphabet Knowledge

Upper CaseAlphabet Recognition

Lower CaseAlphabet Recognition

Letter Sounds

ScoringAdministration

Part A: Upper-Case Alphabet Recognition

Part A: Upper-Case Alphabet Recognition Scoring Sample

Part B: Lower-Case Alphabet Recognition

Part B: Lower-Case Alphabet Recognition Scoring Sample

Part C: Letter Sounds

Part C: Letter Sounds Scoring Sample

Alphabet Knowledge

Proceed to Beginning Sound Awareness Task

16 or greater

9 or greater 15 or fewer

8 or fewer

Conditional Task Sequencing

Beginning Sound Awareness

Administration Show the picture Say what it is Ask for the beginning sound Score the item Say the correct answer and Sort the card

*Do not administer Rhyme and Beginning Sound next to each other

Beginning Sound Awareness

Scoring Score based on child’s first

oral response Letter sound OR letter

name are both acceptable If child gives letter name,

use prompt in manual

Print and Word Awareness Natural book-reading

format Use script to ask questions

as indicated Administration and Scoring

unique for each item Materials management

sample graphic removed

Rhyme Awareness

*Do not administer Rhyme and Beginning Sound next to each other

Nursery Rhyme Awareness

Administered orally

Class Summary Sheet

Codes on page 12

Leave No Blanks

‘NA’ is Not Administered

Score of zero means task WAS administered

Other must always be specified

Multiple race/ethnicity is other & must be specified

Spring Developmental Ranges

for four-year-oldsPALS-PreK tasks Spring Developmental

Range

Maximum Score

Name Writing 5-7 7

Upper-Case Alphabet 12-21 26

Lower-Case Alphabet 9-17 26

Letter Sounds 4-8 26

Beginning Sound Awareness

5-8 10

Print and Word Awareness

7-9 10

Rhyme Awareness 5-7 10

Nursery Rhyme Awareness

6-10 10

Training to Administer PALS-PreK

Recommended that teachers administer Prior to administration:

Read the Teacher’s Manual Watch the PALS-PreK Assessment Training video

Directions for returning data

Ordering PALS-PreK Materials

Teacher Set ($55) – one needed for each administrator to screen 20 children in the fall and spring

Consumable Set ($15) – includes additional materials to screen 20 more children in the fall and spring

Assessment Training Video ($15)

Ordering PALS-PreK Materials

Info on PALS website (http://pals.virginia.edu) under “Order PALS”

Through the UVA Bookstore Phone: (434) 924-1066 Fax: (434) 924-3284 Email: textmailorder@virginia.edu

Activities for Teachers

PALS Web site Instructional resources http://pals.virginia.edu

Please contact the PALS office if you have any questions:

1-888-UVA-PALSpals@virginia.edu