What is the primary purpose of assessment in literacy instruction?

The primary purpose of assessment in literacy instruction is to identify students' strengths and weaknesses. This understanding allows educators to tailor their instruction to meet individual needs, ensuring that each student can progress in their literacy development. By recognizing where a student excels or struggles, teachers can make informed decisions about which skills to reinforce, modify their teaching strategies, and provide targeted interventions. This assessment-driven approach ultimately aims to enhance the students' learning experiences and outcomes, fostering a supportive environment for literacy growth.

The other options, while related to education and assessment, do not directly align with the primary objective of literacy instruction. Evaluating teachers' performance, determining the best reading materials, and creating standardized tests serve different purposes in the educational ecosystem and do not focus specifically on the immediate needs of student literacy progress.