About this episode

The episode discusses the DIBELS assessment and its impact on reading growth in education.

In this episode of Around the School Table , produced by Xuno , host Steve Davis is joined by  Dr. Gina Biancarosa , Ann Swindells Chair in Education, Professor in the Department of Special Education and Clinical Sciences, and Director of the Center on Teaching and Learning at the University of Oregon (uoregon.edu), to explore the origins, purpose, and growing impact of DIBELS (Dynamic Indicators of Basic Early Literacy Skills) in schools across Australia and beyond. Throughout the conversation, Gina explains how DIBELS was developed to help educators identify students who may need additional support with reading. Rather than relying solely on lengthy assessments, DIBELS uses brief, targeted measures that provide valuable insights into a student's literacy development. As a result, teachers can monitor progress more frequently and make informed instructional decisions. The discussion explores the science behind key DIBELS assessments, including letter naming fluency, phonemic awareness, nonsense word fluency, oral reading fluency, and comprehension measures. Furthermore, Gina explains how each assessment aligns with the research on how children learn to read and develop…

More episodes of Big Brain Channel

• Episode 39: Stephanie Doyle, Founder of The Conference Planners - Designing Conferences That Create Lasting Impact - Around the School Table by Xuno Suite · July 19, 2026 · 38 min
• Episode 38: Paul Matthews - Wise AI and the Future of Human Intelligence - Around the School Table by Xuno Suite · June 21, 2026 · 34 min

Explore listener stats, chart rankings, contacts and more on the Big Brain Channel podcast page.