Interest Inventory Analysis

1. “One of the most important and often ignored aspects of reading assessment is the affective domain—that is, interest, attitude, and motivational factors related to reading success” (Flynt & Cooter, 2014, p. 31). The interest inventory gives the examiner access to information that can not be gleaned through a formal cognitive assessment. An interest inventory gathers information about “students’ background knowledge, interests, and motivations as related to reading” (Flynt & Cooter, 2014, p. 31). It also provides information relating to the students habits at home, background knowledge, and vocabulary understanding. From the results gathered, the examiner (teacher) can then provide age appropriate reading materials and intentional instruction, specific to each student’s interests, motivations, and background knowledge. The greatest value of giving an interest …show more content…
Using the interest inventory, teachers gain a better understanding of who their students are beyond the classroom setting. The inventory provides information that guides teachers in creating and engaging their students in literacy practices that will support the individual student. The examiner can use the inventory to align the standards and instruction with the interest of each student. Using the results, the examiner can select reading materials and instructional strategies that appeal to the individual student while supporting his/her reading needs. Supporting every student includes supporting those with cultural differences, such as dual language learners. The interest inventory reveals cultural differences in student’s home life, which affect student’s performance at school. Awareness of the accommodations that can be made to support dual language learners is key when striving for reading success. Overall, the interest inventory provides the opportunity for teachers to create and engage all students in literacy practices that support the individual students, including dual language