DIBELS Next
Dr. Elizabeth J. Marrufo
Director of Elementary Instruction
Dynamic Indicators of
Basic Early Literacy Skills (DIBELS)
Dynamic Indicators of Basic Early Literacy Skills (DIBELS) is a set of measures used
to assess early literacy and reading skills for students from kindergarten
through sixth grade.
You can use DIBELS Next to:

identify students who may be at risk for reading difficulties;

help teachers identify areas to target instructional support;

monitor at-risk students while they receive additional, targeted instruction;
and

examine the effectiveness of your school’s system of instructional supports.
Source: p. ,1 DIBELS Assessment Manual
DIBELS Next and the
Basic Early Literacy Skills

Assessing student performance on the basic early literacy skills, are
also known as the foundational skills and can help distinguish
children who are on track to become successful readers from
children who are likely to struggle.*

The Common Core State Standards (CCSS) focus on foundational
skills in grades K-3.
*Source: DIBELS Next Assessment Manual, p. 2
Alignment of DIBELS Next Measures with
Common Core State Standards (CCSS) and
National Reading Panel’s 5 Big Ideas
Overview of the DIBELS Next Measures
Measure
Description
First Sound Fluency (FSF)
The assessor says words, and the student says the first sound for each word.
Letter Naming Fluency
(LNF)
The student is presented with a sheet of letters and asked to name the letters.
Phoneme Segmentation Fluency (PSF)
The assessor says words, and the student says the individual sounds in each word.
Nonsense Word Fluency
(NWF)
The student is presented with a list of VC and CVC nonsense words (e.g. sig, rav,
ov) and asked to read the words.
DIBELS Oral Reading Fluency
(DORF)
Daze
The student is presented with a reading passage and asked to read aloud. The
student is then asked to retell what he/she just read.
The student is presented with a reading passage in which some words are replaced
by a multiple choice box that includes the original word and two distracters. The
student reads the passage silently and selects the word in each box that best fits the
meaning of the sentence.
DIBELS Next Benchmark
Administration Timeline
How DIBELS Next Is Used

Benchmark Assessment
--Benchmark assessment refers to testing all students within a school or grade three times
per year for the purpose of identifying those who may be at risk for reading
difficulties. Benchmark assessment is always conducted using grade-level material.

Progress Monitoring—(must have for SAT)
--Progress monitoring refers to testing students more frequently who may be at risk for
future reading difficulty on the skill areas in which they are receiving instruction, to
ensure that they are making adequate progress.
LCPS Testing Window
MOY
Recommended Devices
Apple iOS
Microsoft Windows

iPod Touch

ASUS

iPad

NOBI Equus

iPhone
Additional PD

NMPED Archived Webinar

NM Reads to Lead (Nov. 7-8)

On-site LCPS PD (Dates TBD)

www.wirelessgeneration.com/newmexico
Thank You!