Why DIBELS NWF (Nonsense Word Fluency)?
Nonsense words, sometimes referred to as pseudowords or make-believe words, reveal a student’s letter-sound knowledge, as well as the ability to blend letters into words.
Nonsense words are used because these are "words" students can not recognize by sight. Therefore, it is a true indicator of a child’s understanding of how sounds and letters are connected. The ability to read nonsense words shows if a student is applying what they are learning in Fundations to their reading.
Click here for a video on the importance of nonsense words.
Why Decodable Texts?
A decodable reader contains the sound and spelling patterns that students have been taught in a phonics lesson. Reading these types of texts is important in helping students apply what they are learning in Fundations to their reading of connected text. They do not have to guess at the words using pictures or context clues. They are reading (decoding) the words!