Informal reading inventories, such as the Johns Basic Reading Inventory, the Flynt-Cooter Reading Inventory for the Classroom, the Qualitative Reading Inventory II (QRI-II), or Woods and Moe’s Analytical Reading Inventory contain graded word lists. To assess children’s vocabulary, you start with the lowest word list and work up. You will have to follow the direction for each inventory, but generally, there is a set limit of percent correct that tells whether that word list is at the independent, instructional, or frustration level for the student. For specific instructions about the QRI-II, go to http://www.lite.iwarp.com/qrihome.htm.

DIBELS is another early literacy assessment that includes Word Use. See http://dibels.uoregon.edu/index.php.

For Ohio’s Diagnostic Assessment system, go to http://www.diagnostictestsupport.org/.