Episode 117: What Your Reading Data Is Really Telling You

Literacy Talks

Literacy Talks
Episode 117: What Your Reading Data Is Really Telling You
Apr 01, 2026 Episode 117
Reading Horizons

What if the data you’re collecting could actually make your teaching easier—not more overwhelming? In this episode, we unpack what reading assessment is really telling you and how to use it with clarity and purpose.

In this episode, we discuss:

  • The true purpose of different types of reading assessments
  • How to move from data collection to meaningful instructional decisions

Assessment can feel like one more thing on a teacher’s already full plate—but when used well, it becomes one of the most powerful tools for improving student outcomes. In this conversation, we explore common misconceptions about assessment, including the belief that one test can tell the whole story, and why understanding the why behind assessment matters just as much as the data itself.

Our guests share practical insights on how assessment should function within a larger system—supporting both classroom instruction and schoolwide decision-making. From listening to students read aloud to interpreting screening and diagnostic data, this episode highlights what it looks like when assessment and instruction truly work together.

Guests:

  • Andrea Setmeyer, School Psychologist & Professional Learning Director (and now Vice President of Marketing), The Reading League
  • Elisabeth Lamoureaux, Professional Learning Director (Leadership & Implementation), The Reading League

Show Notes
 Learn more about The Reading League Summit and resources on assessment:

The Reading League Summit

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