Validity Evidence of the Reading Screening Test for Portuguese First Graders

Abstract

This study aims to present validity evidence for the Reading Screening Test (TRL-Teste de Rastreio de Leitura) that assesses word and pseudoword reading. Participants were 94 Portuguese first graders (49 girls and 45 boys), assessed with the TRL and criterion measures-ALEPE subscales to assess words, pseudowords reading, and rapid automatized naming. Results from confirmatory factor analyses indicated that a two-factor measurement model yielded a good fit to the data. Favorable estimates of internal consistency reliability were obtained. Correlation coefficient results suggested that the measure was positively and statistically associated with another measure of reading assessment. These results revealed adequate evidence based on internal structure and evidence based on the relationship to other variables for the assessment of word reading accuracy among Portuguese first graders.

Reading skills intervention during the Covid-19 pandemic

“…At the beginning of first grade, the average accuracy in the TRL was 12.3 (SD = 10), in line with the reference results expected at the end of first grade (M = 11; DP = 6.2, Silva et al, 2020). A closer look at the results, specifically analyzing the distribution of children across the different reading percentiles, reveals a worrying fact: 45% of the second graders started the school year (pretest) with results under the P30.…”

“…Children from NTEIP were considered from average SES and children from TEIP from low SES. Participants were assessed regarding reading skills with the Teste de Rastreio de Leitura-TRL [Screening Test for Reading] (Silva et al, 2020). TRL is an early reading ability screening test, developed for Portuguese speaking first graders.…”