What is the term for guiding students through more difficult reading materials to increase comprehension and independence?

• A. DRA
• B. RTI
• C. NWEA
• D. Dibels

Answer: (A)

Focusing on how teachers move a reader forward by using texts that are a bit more challenging while still providing support is all about targeted instruction guided by assessment data. The Developmental Reading Assessment serves this purpose because it helps determine a student’s current reading level and tracks growth over time. With that information, a teacher can select texts that are just above the student’s current level and design guided reading experiences that scaffold comprehension: modeling thinking strategies, asking guiding questions, and gradually releasing responsibility as the student shows increasing independence. This process directly ties assessment results to instructional steps that push a reader to handle tougher material with better understanding.

Other options are more about screening, benchmarks, or systemic intervention rather than the specific practice of guiding students through progressively harder texts to build independence. The Developmental Reading Assessment stands out because it links measurement with the instructional move of leveled, scaffolded reading conversations that promote independent comprehension.