DIBBLES? WHAT'S DIBBLES?
by Walter Griffen
January 25, 2008
"You did what, today?" a parent was asking their elementary student.
"We dibbled!" was the reply.
What in the world is dibbled? What they are actually referring to is a test called the DIBELS (sometimes pronounced, "dibbles"). It stands for Dynamic Indicators of Basic English Language Skills. It is used by our elementary teachers as an indicator of how good a grasp students have of basic reading skills so they can become successful readers. It also alerts teachers to early problems so we can work more intensely on those skills. Those skills include recognizing and using letters and sounds, reading and remembering, and oral language use. All these measures help insure our student's success. Mrs. Halley, Mrs. Tipton, and Mr. Griffen use this valuable information to give additional help to students through our Title 1 program. So, the next time you hear your child say, "We dibbled, today." Just smile and say, "I hope you did your best!" and know that we were assessing those critical reading skills that will help us make important decisions about the education of our students.
