Milestone map
Milestone map
3 milestones
Find main idea, characters, and setting
2 weeks (20 min/day, reading and mapping)
After reading a short passage (2–3 paragraphs), the student can state the main idea in one sentence, name the characters and setting, and retell the beginning, middle, and end. A parent or teacher reads a passage aloud with the student (or the student reads independently) and asks the three key questions afterward.
Proof required
Submit a completed story map (handwritten or typed) covering main idea, characters, setting, and beginning-middle-end for a passage the parent or teacher selected — with a parent or teacher note confirming it was completed after reading.
What gets checked
- Main idea stated in one sentence — not a detail, not a copy of the title
- Characters named and setting described (time and place, not just the room)
- Beginning, middle, and end summarized in the student's own words
Common mistakes
- Stating a detail rather than the main idea — the main idea is what the WHOLE passage is mostly about, not just one thing that happened
- Copying sentences from the text rather than retelling in own words — paraphrase to prove understanding
Resources
Foundationstart here
Depthgo deeper
What a verifier looks for
- Ask 'what is the whole passage mostly about?' — reject answers that focus on one detail
- For setting: prompt 'where and when does this story take place?' — both time and place should be identified if mentioned
- Story map should be completed after reading, not during — check that it's in the student's own words
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Make inferences and find text evidence
2 weeks (20 min/day)
After reading a passage, the student answers 'why' questions by finding evidence in the text, not just stating what they think. A parent or teacher gives 5 inference questions from a passage the student has just read, requiring the student to point to or quote the specific sentence or phrase that supports each answer.
Proof required
Submit a completed inference worksheet with 5 questions — each answer must include a direct quote or paraphrase from the passage as evidence — with a parent or teacher note confirming the passage title and that evidence is correctly cited.
What gets checked
- Each answer includes a quote or specific reference to the text — 'I think so because...' without a text reference does not pass
- Inferences are reasonable and supported by the evidence cited
- 4 of 5 answers are correct with valid evidence
Common mistakes
- Answering based on background knowledge rather than the text — the question is 'what does the passage tell you?' not 'what do you already know?'
- Quoting irrelevant sentences as evidence — the quoted sentence should directly support the inference, not just be near the answer
Resources
Foundationstart here
Depthgo deeper
What a verifier looks for
- Ask 'where in the passage does it say that?' for each answer — the student should point to or quote the supporting text
- Reject answers that are reasonable guesses without text support
- 4 of 5 correct with valid evidence citations is the bar
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Score 8 of 10 on an unseen passage quiz
1 session (20–30 min)
Answer 10 comprehension questions on a passage the student reads for the first time during the assessment — with no prior preparation on that specific text. Questions should include main idea, character inference, vocabulary in context, and text evidence. A parent or teacher selects and administers the passage and questions without showing them to the student beforehand.
Proof required
Submit a completed 10-question comprehension quiz on an unseen passage (selected by a parent or teacher), scoring 8 or above, with a parent or teacher note confirming the passage was new, the quiz was completed independently, and the answers were checked.
What gets checked
- 8 of 10 questions answered correctly without assistance during the reading
- Passage was genuinely new (not a text previously studied)
- Questions cover at least three types: main idea, inference, and vocabulary in context
Common mistakes
- Using a passage the student has read before — the assessment must use unseen text
- Answering during reading rather than after — the full passage should be read before any questions are answered
Powstik Guide
A 10-question quiz on an unseen passage, 8 or more right.
Steps
- An adult picks a passage the student hasn't seen.
- The student reads it once.
- Answer ten questions without help.
- The adult marks and signs it.
Template
Passage source: Chosen by: Score: __ / 10 Question types missed: Marker signature:
What gets sent back
- Passage seen before.
- Score under 8.
- Self-marked.
Resources
Foundationstart here
Depthgo deeper
What a verifier looks for
- Choose a text the student has NOT read or heard before — ask directly before the assessment
- Have the student read the full passage before answering any questions
- 8 of 10 is the bar; below that, identify whether errors are in main idea, inference, or vocabulary and target those in the next level
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