Arkansas Foundations of Reading Test (FORT)

Which informal assessment involves analyzing students' reading errors?

1. Pop quizzes

2. Miscue analysis

3. Observation checklists

4. Reading logs

The correct answer is: Miscue analysis

The correct answer is miscue analysis, as this informal assessment method specifically focuses on examining the reading errors made by students during oral reading. By identifying the types of miscues—such as semantic substitutions, phonetic errors, or omissions—educators can gain valuable insights into a student's decoding skills, comprehension ability, and overall reading strategies. This analysis allows teachers to tailor instruction to address specific areas of weakness or misunderstanding, thereby supporting the reading development process more effectively. In contrast, pop quizzes are brief assessments typically focused on recalling information rather than analyzing reading processes. Observation checklists are tools used to systematically monitor a variety of behaviors or skills but do not specifically target reading errors. Reading logs serve as records of reading activity and can provide insight into a student's reading habits, but they do not involve an analysis of errors made during reading itself. Each of these alternatives serves a different purpose in evaluating student performance but lacks the specific focus on error analysis that miscue analysis provides.