But Ms. Pursley's commitment to a student-driven classroom is
coupled with an equal commitment to meeting the Texas standards
for first grade. "I can go with the flow of the classroom and
still keep within the general Texas framework for learning," she
says. Continually observing students, Ms. Pursley introduces
important skills and concepts as "teachable moments" arise in
class. In this way, she caters to the needs and background
knowledge of each student while keeping her eye on benchmarks
identified by the state. Ms. Pursley uses formal and informal
assessment to identify individual student needs. She formally
assesses students two to three times a year with instruments
adopted by her district -- the Texas Primary Reading Inventory
and the Developmental Reading Assessment (DRA). For informal
assessment, Ms. Pursley listens to students read weekly -- and
sometimes daily -- making notes, including marking miscues, in a
binder containing records on each student.