Placement Tool


Preview Placement Tool

The Placement Tool measures reading skills in the areas of phonics and reading comprehension. The results help determine the optimal entry point for a student in Headsprout.

While it is recommended that kindergarten and first-grade students begin at episode 1, some students, especially if they are in second grade or above, may already have enough decoding skills to be able to start at a more advanced episode.

If you have students who are in second grade or above but still struggle with decoding and phonics skills, have those students take the Placement Tool before they start the program.

  1. Print the Placement Tool PDF
  2. Follow the instructions on the Placement Tool to place the students who need it: students read text, and the number of errors determines the episode in which the student should be placed.
  3. Go to your roster and select the episode number recommended by the Placement Tool. When students log in to Headsprout, they will start at the episode you selected. If no episode is selected then students will start at episode 1 by default.

Why Use the Placement Tool

The Placement Tool assesses a student's knowledge of early reading and comprehension, and recommends an appropriate entry point in the sequence that matches the student's skill level.

The Placement Tool is a useful tool after a long break due to illness, vacation, or even summer. When students return to school after the break, their reading skills may have changed significantly. Teachers can use the Placement Tool to determine if a returning student should be set back, move ahead in the program, or pick up at the point where he or she left off.

How to Use the Placement Tool

The sole purpose of the Placement Tool is to evaluate a student's reading ability and skills for placement at the entry point in Headsprout. The Placement Tool does not pinpoint reading difficulties or determine reading levels. The results of the test are valid for placement purposes for approximately 30 days. If the student does not begin the program within 30 days, it is recommended that the Placement Tool be given again.