The Imagine+ Screener® is a game-based literacy assessment tool designed for students in PreK–Grade 3. It helps educators identify students at risk for reading difficulties, including characteristics of dyslexia, by evaluating foundational literacy skills through adaptive subtests. Integrated into the Imagine+ Assessment suite, this tool combines engaging gameplay with rigorous screening to support timely interventions.
In Grades K–3, the Imagine+ Screener also reports a predictive score called Potential for Word Reading (PWR), which summarizes each student's likelihood of meeting an end-of-year word reading benchmark based on performance on key subtests.
What is the Imagine+ Screener?
The Imagine+ Screener consists of multiple subtests that assess specific literacy skills. These subtests are organized around the five essential components of reading identified by the National Reading Panel:
- Phonological Awareness: The ability to identify and manipulate sounds in spoken language, ranging from rhyming to manipulating individual phonemes
- Phonics: Understanding letter-sound relationships (the alphabetic principle), essential for decoding written words
- Comprehension: Ability to understand spoken and written language, including both literal understanding and inferential meaning
- Vocabulary: Knowledge of word meanings, which is strongly correlated with successful reading comprehension
- Fluency: Reading text accurately, quickly, and with appropriate expression
Subtest administration methods include:
- Oral responses: Students verbally answer questions (e.g., blending sounds)
- Point-and-click interactions: Students select answers on-screen
- Paper/pencil tasks: Administered manually for specific subtests (e.g., letter recognition)
Imagine+ Screener is a research-backed assessment tool developed in collaboration with Boston Children's Hospital and the Florida Center for Reading Research.
Key Features
- Adaptive design: Adjusts subtest difficulty based on student responses for precise skill measurement
- Game-based interface: Guided by Pip the toucan, a friendly character who leads students through interactive tasks
- Risk indicators: Flags students requiring intervention based on percentile rankings
- Spanish support: Instructions and family reports available in Spanish
Administration
- Modes:
- Locked Mode: Subtests follow a predetermined sequence for standardized administration
- Unlocked Mode: Allows flexible navigation for reassessing specific skills
- Scheduling: Configured by Administrators via the Scheduler tool in Imagine+ Assessment
- Time requirements:
- PreK: 20 minutes
- Kindergarten: 45 minutes
- Grades 1–3: 30 minutes
- Individual or group testing: Administer to a single student or small groups
Note
Students can independently switch between modes using the Navigation Toggle. Teachers may also request mode changes based on individual student needs.
Student experience
- PreK–K: Interactive tasks with audio support and practice opportunities
- Grades 1–3: Age-appropriate rewards and a streamlined interface
- Universal features: Pause/resume functionality with auto-saved progress
Reports and data
Available reports include:
- Class-level data: View aggregated percentile ranks for each literacy skills across the class
- Student-level profiles: Access detailed subtest scores, national percentiles, and growth trends
- Potential for Word Reading (PWR): For Grades K–3, a predictive score that shows how likely a student is to meet end-of-year word reading expectations, reported as Low, Moderate, or High and shown next to their subtest scores.
- Color-coded results:
- Dark Blue: ≤ 20th percentile (high risk)
- Light Blue: 21st–40th percentile (moderate risk)
- White: >40th percentile (low risk)
- Next Step Resources: Skill-specific lesson plans and progress monitoring tools linked to assessment results for targeted instruction