# APPENDIX C

PIRLS Background Questionnaires

Note:

The final international versions of the PIRLS 201 6 field test questionnaire s , with proposed

adapt at ions to the U.S. context (e.g., U.S. spelling and other conventions), are provided in

this document. The final PIRLS 2016 field test questionnaires will be available in

September 2014, after review and approval by the International Association for the

Evaluation of Educational Achievement (IEA), at which point NCES will rep lace them in

this document

.Identification Label

© IEA, 2014 National Center for Education Statistics

U.S. Department of Education

1990 K St., NW

Washington, DC 20006 

# Grade 4 PROGRESS IN INTERNATIONAL READING LITERACY STUDY



# School

Questionnaire

Field Test Version

According to the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, no persons are required to respond to a collection of information unless such collection displays a valid OMB control

number. The valid OMB control number for this voluntary information collection is 1850-0645. The time required to complete this information collection is estimated

to average 40 minutes per response, including the time to review instructions, search existing data resources, gather the data needed, and complete and review the

information collection. If you have any comments or concerns regarding the accuracy of the time estimate(s), suggestions for improving the form, or the status of your

individual submission of this form, write directly to: Progress in International Reading Literacy Study (PIRLS), National Center for Education Statistics, U.S. Department of

Education, 1990 K Street, N.W., Washington, D.C. 20006.

OMB No. 1850-0645, Approval Expires xx/xx/2017. School ID Checksum

U.S. participation in this study is sponsored by the National Center for Education

Statistics (NCES), U.S. Department of Education, and authorized by the Education

Sciences Reform Act of 2002 (20 U.S.C., § 9543). Your responses are protected by

federal statute (20 U.S.C., § 9573) and may be used only for statistical purposes and

may not be disclosed, or used, in identifiable form for any other purpose except as

required by law.

## School Questionnaire



# PIRLS 2016 Your school has agreed to participate in

PIRLS 2016 (Progress in International Reading

Literacy Study), an educational research project

sponsored by the International Association for the

Evaluation of Educational Achievement (IEA). PIRLS

measures trends in student achievement in reading,

and studies differences in national education

systems in more than 40 countries in order to help

improve teaching and learning worldwide.

This questionnaire is addressed to school

principals and department heads who are asked to

supply information about their schools. Since your

school has been selected as part of a nationwide

sample, your responses are very important in

helping to describe primary/elementary education

in the United States

It is important that you answer each question

carefully so that the information provided reflects

the situation in your school as accurately as

possible. Some of the questions will require that

you look up school records, so you may wish to arrange for the assistance of another staff member

to help provide this information.

Since PIRLS is an international study and all

countries are using the same questionnaire, you

may find that some of the questions seem unusual

or are not entirely relevant to you or schools in the

United States. Nevertheless, it is important that

you do your best to answer all of the questions so

comparisons can be made across countries in the

study.

It is estimated that you will need approximately

40 minutes to complete this questionnaire. We

appreciate the time and effort that this takes and

thank you for your cooperation and contribution.

When you have completed the questionnaire,

please place it in the accompanying envelope and

return it to the PIRLS school coordinator.

Your response will be combined with those from

other participants to produce summary statistics

and reports.

Thank you.2 

### School Enrollment and Characteristics



## 1

What is the total enrollment of students in your

school as of March 1, 2015?

_____________ students

Write in a number.



## 2

What is the total enrollment of fourth grade

students in your school as of March 1, 2015?

_____________ students

Write in a number.



## 3

Approximately what percentage of students in

your school have the following backgrounds?

Check one circle for each line.

0 to 10%

11 to 25%

26 to 50%

More than

50%

a) Come from economically

disadvantaged homes

--------- 

### A A A A

b) Come from economically

affluent homes

----------------- 

### A A A A 

## 4

Approximately what percentage of students in your

school have English as their native language?

Check one circle only.

More than 90%

--- 

### A

76 to 90%

--- 

### A

51 to 75%

--- 

### A

26 to 50%

--- 

### A

25% or less

--- 

### A

B. Of the students currently enrolled in your school,

what percentage has been identified as limitedEnglish proficient (LEP)/English Language Learners

(ELL)?

Check one circle only.

0%

--- 

### A

1 to 5%

--- 

### A

6 to 10%

--- 

### A

11 to 25%

--- 

### A

26 to 50%

--- 

### A

51 to 75%

--- 

### A

76 to 90%

--- 

### A3 

## 7

Does your school provide free breakfast for

students?

Check one circle only.

Yes, for all students

--- 

### A

Yes, for some students

--- 

### A

No, free breakfast is

not provided

--- 

### A



## 8

Does your school provide free lunch for

students?

Check one circle only.

Yes, for all students

--- 

### A

Yes, for some students

--- 

### A

No, free lunch is not provided

--- 

### A 

## 6

What type of school is this?

Check one circle only.

Regular public school

-- 

### A

A regular public school with a magnet program

-- 

### A

A magnet school or school with a special program

emphasis (e.g., Montessori, science/math school,

performing arts school, talented/gifted school,

foreign language immersion school, etc.)

-- 

### A

Special education: a school that primarily serves

students with disabilities

-- 

### A

Alternative: a school designed to address the needs of

students, typically at risk of educational failure, which

cannot be met in regular schools

-- 

### A

Vocational

-- 

### A

Charter School

-- 

### A

Private (independent)

-- 

### A

Private (religiously affiliated)

-- 

### A

Other

-- 

### A 

## 5

A. How many people live in the city, town, or area

where your school is located?

Check one circle only.

More than 500,000 people

--- 

### A

100,001 to 500,000 people

--- 

### A

50,001 to 100,000 people

--- 

### A

30,001 to 50,000 people

--- 

### A

15,001 to 30,000 people

--- 

### A

3,001 to 15,000 people

--- 

### A

3,000 people or fewer

--- 

### A

Over 90%

--- 

### A

B. Which best describes the immediate area in which

your school is located?

Check one circle only.

Urban–Densely populated

--- 

### A

Suburban–On fringe or

outskirts of urban area

--- 

### A

Medium size city or large town

--- 

### A

Small town or village

--- 

### A

Remote rural

--- 

### A

C. Which best characterizes the average income level

of the school’s immediate area?

Check one circle only.

High

--- 

### A

Medium

--- 

### A

Low

--- 

### A4 

## 10

To what degree are the following health topics

emphasized in your school?

Check one circle for each line.

Very high

High

Medium

Low

a) Washing hands

---------------- 

### A A A A

b) Brushing teeth

----------------- 

### A A A A

c) A healthy diet/nutrition

------- 

### A A A A

d) Disease prevention

------------ 

### A A A A Instructional Time



## 9

Around the first of October 2014, what percentage

of students at this school were eligible to receive

free or reduced-price lunches through the National

School Lunch Program?

_____________ percentage of students

Write in a number. 

## 11

For the fourth grade students in your school:

A. How many days per year is your school open for

instruction?

__________ days

Write in the number.

B. What is the total instructional time , excluding

breaks, in a typical day ?

__________ minutes

Write in the number of minutes per day.

Please convert the number of hours into minutes.

C. In one calendar week , how many days is the school

open for instruction?

Check one circle only.

6 days

--- 

### A

5 1/2 days

--- 

### A

5 days

--- 

### A

4 1/2 days

--- 

### A

4 days

--- 

### A

Other

--- 

### A5 

## 14

Does your school have a school library?

Check one circle only.

Yes

--- 

### A

No

--- 

### A

(If No, go to #15)

If Yes,

A. Approximately how many books (print and digital)

with different titles does your school library have

(exclude magazines and periodicals)?

Check one circle in each column.

Print Digital

250 or fewer

--- 

### A A

251–500

--- 

### A A

501–2,000

--- 

### A A

2,001–5,000

--- 

### A A

5,001–10,000

--- 

### A A

More than 10,000

--- 

### A A

B. Approximately how many titles of magazines and

other periodicals (print and digital) does your

school library have?

Check one circle in each column.

Print Digital

0

--- 

### A A

1–5

--- 

### A A

6–10

--- 

### A A

11–30

--- 

### A A

31 or more

--- 

### A A

C. Can students borrow print or digital materials from

the library to take home?

Check one circle only.

Yes

--- 

### A

No

--- 

### A Resources and Technology



## 12

A. Does your school provide a place where students

can work on their schoolwork before or after

school?

Check one circle only.

Yes

--- 

### A

No

--- 

### A

(If No, go to #13)

If Yes,

B. Is someone available to assist them with their

schoolwork?

Check one circle only.

Yes

--- 

### A

No

--- 

### A



## 13

As a general school policy, is student achievement

used to assign fourth grade students to classes (e.g.,

streaming, tracking)?

Check one circle only.

Yes

--- 

### A

No

--- 

### A6 

## 16

How much is your school’s capacity to provide

instruction affected by a shortage or inadequacy

of the following?

Check one circle for each line.

Not at all

A little

Some

A lot

A. General School Resources

a) Instructional materials (e.g.,

textbooks)

--------------------- 

### A A A A

b) Supplies (e.g., papers,

pencils, materials)

------------- 

### A A A A

c) School buildings and

grounds

------------------------ 

### A A A A

d) Heating/cooling and lighting

systems

------------------------ 

### A A A A

e) Instructional space (e.g.,

classrooms)

-------------------- 

### A A A A

f) Technologically competent

staff

---------------------------- 

### A A A A

g) Audio-visual resources

for delivery of instruction

(e.g., interactive white

boards, digital projectors)

----- 

### A A A A

h) Computer technology for

teaching and learning

(e.g., computers or tablets

for student use)

---------------- 

### A A A A

i) Resources for students with

disabilities

---------------------- 

### A A A A

B. Resources for Reading

Instruction

a) Teachers with a specialization

in reading

---------------------- 

### A A A A

b) Computer software/

applications for reading

instruction

--------------------- 

### A A A A

c) Library resources (books,

ebooks, magazines, etc.)

------ 

### A A A A

d) Instructional materials for

reading (e.g., reading series,

textbooks)

--------------------- 

### A A A A 

## 15

How many computers (including tablets) does your

school have for use by fourth grade students?

___________ computers

Write in the number.7 

## 18

A. To what degree is each of the following a problem

among fourth grade students in your school?

Check one circle for each line.

Not a problem

Minor problem

Moderate problem

Serious

problem

a) Arriving late at school

--------- 

### A A A A

b) Absenteeism (i.e.,

unjustified absences)

---------- 

### A A A A

c) Classroom disturbance

-------- 

### A A A A

d) Cheating

----------------------- 

### A A A A

e) Profanity

----------------------- 

### A A A A

f) Vandalism

---------------------- 

### A A A A

g) Theft

--------------------------- 

### A A A A

h) Intimidation or verbal abuse

among students (including

texting, emailing, etc.)

-------- 

### A A A A

i) Physical fights among

students

------------------------ 

### A A A A

j) Intimidation or verbal abuse

of teachers or staff (including

texting, emailing, etc.)

-------- 

### A A A A

B. To what degree is each of the following a problem

among teachers in your school?

Check one circle for each line.

Not a problem

Minor problem

Moderate problem

Serious

problem

a) Arriving late or

leaving early

------------------- 

### A A A A

b) Absenteeism

------------------- 

### A A A A

School Climate



## 17

How would you characterize each of the following

within your school?

Check one circle for each line.

Very high

High

Medium

Low

Very

low

a) Teachers’ understanding of

the school’s curricular goals

--- 

### A A A A A

b) Teachers’ degree of

success in implementing

the school’s curriculum

-------- 

### A A A A A

c) Teachers’ expectations

for student achievement

------ 

### A A A A A

d) Teachers working together

to improve student

achievement

------------------- 

### A A A A A

e) Teachers’ ability to

inspire students

---------------- 

### A A A A A

f) Parental involvement

in school activities

------------- 

### A A A A A

g) Parental commitment to

ensure that students are

ready to learn

------------------ 

### A A A A A

h) Parental expectations for

student achievement

---------- 

### A A A A A

i) Parental support for

student achievement

---------- 

### A A A A A

j) Parental pressure for the

school to maintain high

academic standards

------------ 

### A A A A A

k) Students’ desire to do

well in school

------------------ 

### A A A A A

l) Students’ ability to reach

school’s academic goals

------- 

### A A A A A

m) Students’ respect for

classmates who excel

in school

----------------------- 

### A A A A A School Emphasis

on Academic Success8 

### School Readiness



## 19

About how many of the students in your school can

do the following when they begin the first grade of

primary/elementary school?

Check one circle for each line.

Less than 25%

25–50%

51–75%

More than

75%

a) Recognize most of the

letters of the alphabet

--------- 

### A A A A

b) Tell a story

--------------------- 

### A A A A

c) Read some words

-------------- 

### A A A A

d) Read sentences

---------------- 

### A A A A

e) Read a story

-------------------- 

### A A A A

f) Write letters of the alphabet

-- 

### A A A A

g) Write some words

------------- 

### A A A A 

## 20

At which grade do the following reading skills

and strategies first receive a major emphasis in

instruction in your school?

Check one circle for each line.

First grade or earlier

Second grade

Third grade

Fourth grade

Not in

these grades

a) Knowing letters of the

alphabet

----------------------- 

### A A A A A

b) Knowing letter-sound

relationships

------------------- 

### A A A A A

c) Reading words

----------------- 

### A A A A A

d) Reading isolated sentences

--- 

### A A A A A

e) Reading connected text

------- 

### A A A A A

f) Locating information within

the text

------------------------ 

### A A A A A

g) Identifying the main idea

of a text

------------------------ 

### A A A A A

h) Explaining or supporting

understanding of a text

------- 

### A A A A A

i) Comparing a text with

personal experience

----------- 

### A A A A A

j) Comparing different texts

----- 

### A A A A A

k) Making predictions about

what will happen next in

a text

--------------------------- 

### A A A A A

l) Making generalizations and

drawing inferences based

on a text

----------------------- 

### A A A A A

m) Describing the style or

structure of a text

------------- 

### A A A A A

n) Determining the author’s

perspective or intention

------- 

### A A A A A Reading in Your School9 

## 24

Do you hold any of the following professional

qualifications in educational leadership?

Check one circle for each line.

Yes

No

a) Certificate or license

------------------------------ 

### A A

b) An academic Master’s degree,

postgraduate certificate program

(e.g., teaching) or first professional

degree (e.g., law, medicine, dentistry)

---------- 

### A A

c) A doctorate (Ph.D. or Ed.D.)

----------------------- 

### A A Principal Professional

Development and Experience



## 21

By the end of this school year, how many years will

you have been a principal altogether?

_____________ years

Please round to the nearest whole number.



## 22

By the end of this school year, how many years will

you have been a principal at this school?

_____________ years

Please round to the nearest whole number.



## 23

What is the highest level of formal education you

have completed?

Check one circle only.

Did not complete a 4-year

college or university degree

(i.e., Bachelor’s degree)

--- 

### A

Completed a 4-year college

or university degree

(i.e., Bachelor’s degree)

--- 

### A

Completed an academic Master’s

degree, postgraduate certificate

program (e.g., teaching) or first

professional degree (e.g.,

law, medicine, dentistry)

--- 

### A

Completed a doctorate (Ph.D. or Ed.D.)

--- 

### A10 

## 25

During the past year, approximately how much time

have you spent on the following school

leadership activities in your role as a school

principal?

Check one circle for each line.

No time

A little time

Some time

A lot of time

a) Promoting the school’s

educational vision or goals

---- 

### A A A A

b) Developing the school’s

curricular and

educational goals

-------------- 

### A A A A

c) Monitoring teachers’

implementation of the

school’s educational goals

in their teaching

--------------- 

### A A A A

d) Monitoring students’

learning progress to ensure

that the school’s educational

goals are reached

-------------- 

### A A A A

e) Keeping an orderly

atmosphere in the school

----- 

### A A A A

f) Addressing disruptive

student behavior

-------------- 

### A A A A

g) Advising teachers who have

questions or problems with

their teaching

------------------ 

### A A A A

h) Initiating educational

projects or improvements

----- 

### A A A A

i) Participating in professional

development activities

specifically for school

principals

---------------------- 

### A A A A Leadership Activities

Thank you for the thought, time, and effort you have

put into completing this questionnaire. 

# Thank You

# Grade 4 PROGRESS IN INTERNATIONAL READING LITERACY STUDY

pirls.bc.edu © IEA, 2014

International Association

for the Evaluation of

Educational Achievement 

# School

Questionnaire

Field Test VersionIdentification Label

© IEA, 2014 National Center for Education Statistics

U.S. Department of Education

1990 K St., NW

Washington, DC 20006 

# Grade 4 PROGRESS IN INTERNATIONAL READING LITERACY STUDY



# Teacher Questionnaire

Field Test Version School ID Class ID Teacher ID

Link Number Checksum

According to the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, no persons are required to respond to a collection of information unless such collection displays a valid OMB control

number. The valid OMB control number for this voluntary information collection is 1850-0645. The time required to complete this information collection is estimated

to average 40 minutes per response, including the time to review instructions, search existing data resources, gather the data needed, and complete and review the

information collection. If you have any comments or concerns regarding the accuracy of the time estimate(s), suggestions for improving the form, or the status of your

individual submission of this form, write directly to: Progress in International Reading Literacy Study (PIRLS), National Center for Education Statistics, U.S. Department of

Education, 1990 K Street, N.W., Washington, D.C. 20006.

OMB No. 1850-0645, Approval Expires xx/xx/2017. U.S. participation in this study is sponsored by the National Center for Education

Statistics (NCES), U.S. Department of Education, and authorized by the Education

Sciences Reform Act of 2002 (20 U.S.C., § 9543). Your responses are protected by

federal statute (20 U.S.C., § 9573) and may be used only for statistical purposes and

may not be disclosed, or used, in identifiable form for any other purpose except as

required by law.

## Teacher Questionnaire



# PIRLS 2016 Your school has agreed to participate in

PIRLS 2016 (Progress in International Reading

Literacy Study), an educational research project

sponsored by the International Association for the

Evaluation of Educational Achievement (IEA). PIRLS

measures trends in student achievement in reading

and studies differences in national education

systems in more than 40 countries in order to help

improve teaching and learning worldwide.

This questionnaire is addressed to teachers of

fourth grade students, and seeks information about

teachers’ academic and professional backgrounds,

classroom resources, instructional practices, and

attitudes toward teaching. Since your class has

been selected as part of a nationwide sample, your

responses are very important in helping to describe

primary/elementary education in the United States.

Some of the questions in the questionnaire refer

to the “ PIRLS class ” or “ this class ”. This is the class

that is identified on the front of this booklet, and

which will be tested as part of PIRLS in your school.

If you teach some but not all of the students in the

PIRLS class, please think only of the students that you teach when answering these class-specific

questions. It is important that you answer each

question carefully so that the information that

you provide reflects your situation as accurately as

possible.

Since PIRLS is an international study and all

countries are using the same questionnaire, you may

find that some of the questions seem unusual or are

not entirely relevant to you or schools in the United

States. Nevertheless, it is important that you do your

best to answer all of the questions so comparisons

can be made across countries in the studies.

It is estimated that you will need approximately

40 minutes to complete this questionnaire. We

appreciate the time and effort that this takes and

thank you for your cooperation and contribution.

When you have completed the questionnaire,

please place it in the accompanying envelope and

return it to the PIRLS school coordinator.

Your response will be combined with those from

other participants to produce summary statistics

and reports.

Thank you.2 

### About You



## 1

By the end of this school year, how many years will

you have been teaching altogether?

_____________ years

Please round to the nearest whole number.



## 2

Are you female or male?

Check one circle only.

Female

--- 

### A

Male

--- 

### A



## 3

How old are you?

Check one circle only.

Under 25

--- 

### A

25–29

--- 

### A

30–39

--- 

### A

40–49

--- 

### A

50–59

--- 

### A

60 or more

--- 

### A 

## 4

What is the highest level of formal education you

have completed?

Check one circle only.

Did not complete high school

--- 

### A

Completed high school

--- 

### A

Completed a vocational/technical

certificate after high school

--- 

### A

Completed an Associate’s degree (AA)

in vocational/technical program

--- 

### A

Completed a 2-year college or university

degree (i.e., Associate’s degree)

--- 

### A

Completed a 4-year college or university

degree (i.e., Bachelor’s degree)

--- 

### A

Completed an academic Master’s

degree, postgraduate certificate program

(e.g., teaching) or first professional

degree (e.g., law, medicine, dentistry)

--- 

### A

Completed a doctorate (Ph.D. or Ed.D)

--- 

### A3 

## 6

In the past two years, how many hours in total

have you spent in formal in-service/professional

development (e.g., workshops, seminars, lesson

studies, etc.) that dealt directly with reading or

teaching reading (e.g., reading theory, instructional

methods)?

Check one circle only.

None

--- 

### A

Less than 6 hours

--- 

### A

6–15 hours

--- 

### A

16–35 hours

--- 

### A

More than 35 hours

--- 

### A 

## 5

A. During your college or university education, what

was your major or main area(s) of study?

Check one circle for each line.

Yes

No

a) Education—Primary/Elementary

-------------- 

### A A

b) Education—Secondary

------------------------- 

### A A

c) English

------------------------------------------- 

### A A

d) Mathematics

------------------------------------- 

### A A

e) Science

------------------------------------------- 

### A A

f) Other

--------------------------------------------- 

### A A

B. As part of your formal education and/or training,

to what extent did you study the following areas?

Check one circle for each line.

Not at all

Overview or introduction

to topic

It was an area of emphasis

a) English

------------------------- 

### A A A

b) Literature

---------------------- 

### A A A

c) Pedagogy/teaching reading

-- 

### A A A

d) Educational psychology

------- 

### A A A

e) Remedial reading

-------------- 

### A A A

f) Reading theory

---------------- 

### A A A

g) Special education

-------------- 

### A A A

h) Second language learning

---- 

### A A A

i) Assessment methods

in reading

---------------------- 

### A A A4 

### School Emphasis on Academic Success



## 7

How would you characterize each of the following within your school?

Check one circle for each line.

Very high

High

Medium

Low

Very

low

a) Teachers’ understanding of

the school’s curricular goals

--- 

### A A A A A

b) Teachers’ degree of

success in implementing

the school’s curriculum

-------- 

### A A A A A

c) Teachers’ expectations

for student achievement

------ 

### A A A A A

d) Teachers working together

to improve student

achievement

------------------- 

### A A A A A

e) Teachers’ ability to

inspire students

---------------- 

### A A A A A

f) Parental involvement

in school activities

------------- 

### A A A A A

g) Parental commitment to

ensure that students are

ready to learn

------------------ 

### A A A A A

h) Parental expectations for

student achievement

---------- 

### A A A A A

i) Parental support for

student achievement

---------- 

### A A A A A

j) Parental pressure for the

school to maintain high

academic standards

----------- 

### A A A A A Check one circle for each line.

Very high

High

Medium

Low

Very

low

k) Students’ desire to do

well in school

------------------ 

### A A A A A

l) Students’ ability to reach

school’s academic goals

------- 

### A A A A A

m) Students’ respect for

classmates who excel

in school

----------------------- 

### A A A A A

n) Clarity of the school’s

educational objectives

--------- 

### A A A A A

o) Collaboration between

school leadership and

teachers to plan instruction

--- 

### A A A A A

p) Amount of instructional

support provided to teachers

by school leadership

----------- 

### A A A A A

q) School leadership’s

support for teachers’

professional development

----- 

### A A A A A5 

### School Environment



## 8

Thinking about your current school, indicate the

extent to which you agree or disagree with each of

the following statements.

Check one circle for each line.

Agree a lot

Agree a little

Disagree a little

Disagree

a lot

a) This school is located in

a safe neighborhood

---------- 

### A A A A

b) I feel safe at this school

-------- 

### A A A A

c) This school’s security policies

and practices are sufficient

---- 

### A A A A

d) The students behave in an

orderly manner

---------------- 

### A A A A

e) The students are respectful

of the teachers

----------------- 

### A A A A

f) The students respect

school property

---------------- 

### A A A A

g) This school has clear rules

about student conduct

-------- 

### A A A A

h) This school's rules are

enforced in a fair and

consistent manner

------------- 

### A A A A 

## 9

In your current school, how severe is each problem?

Check one circle for each line.

Not a problem

Minor problem

Moderate problem

Serious

problem

a) The school building needs

significant repair

-------------- 

### A A A A

b) Teachers do not have

adequate workspace (e.g., for

preparation, collaboration,

or meeting with students)

---- 

### A A A A

c) Teachers do not have

adequate instructional

materials and supplies

-------- 

### A A A A

d) The school classrooms are

not cleaned often enough

----- 

### A A A A

e) The school classrooms need

maintenance work

------------ 

### A A A A

f) Teachers do not have

adequate technological

resources

----------------------- 

### A A A A

g) Teachers do not have

adequate support for

using technology

-------------- 

### A A A A6 

### About Being a Teacher



## 10

How often do you have the following types of

interactions with other teachers?

Check one circle for each line.

Very often

Often

Sometimes

Never or

almost never

a) Discuss how to teach

a particular topic

-------------- 

### A A A A

b) Collaborate in planning

and preparing instructional

materials

----------------------- 

### A A A A

c) Share what I have

learned about my

teaching experiences

---------- 

### A A A A

d) Visit another classroom

to learn more about teaching

- 

### A A A A

e) Work together to

try out new ideas

-------------- 

### A A A A

f) Work as a group on

implementing the

curriculum

--------------------- 

### A A A A

g) Work with teachers from

other grades to ensure

continuity in learning

--------- 

### A A A A 

## 11

How often do you feel the following way

about being a teacher?

Check one circle for each line.

Very often

Often

Sometimes

Never or

almost never

a) I am content with my

profession as a teacher

-------- 

### A A A A

b) I am satisfied with being

a teacher at this school

-------- 

### A A A A

c) I find my work full of

meaning and purpose

--------- 

### A A A A

d) I am enthusiastic

about my job

------------------- 

### A A A A

e) My work inspires me

----------- 

### A A A A

f) I am proud of the work I do

--- 

### A A A A

g) I am going to continue

teaching for as long as I can

--- 

### A A A A7 

## 12

Indicate the extent to which you agree or disagree

with each of the following statements.

Check one circle for each line.

Agree a lot

Agree a little

Disagree a little

Disagree

a lot

a) There are too many

students in the classes

--------- 

### A A A A

b) I have too much material to

cover in class

------------------- 

### A A A A

c) I have too many teaching

hours

--------------------------- 

### A A A A

d) I need more time to prepare

for class

------------------------ 

### A A A A

e) I need more time to assist

individual students

------------ 

### A A A A

f) I feel too much pressure

from parents

------------------- 

### A A A A

g) I have difficulty keeping up

with all of the changes to the

curriculum

--------------------- 

### A A A A

h) I have too many administrative

tasks

--------------------------- 

### A A A A About Teaching the PIRLS Class



## 13

A. How many students are in this class?

_____________ students

Write in a number.

B. How many of the students in #13A are in

fourth grade?

_____________ fourth grade students

Write in a number.



## 14

How many fourth grade students experience

difficulties understanding spoken English?

_____________ students in this class

Write in a number.



## 15

A. How many students need remedial instruction

in reading ?

_____________ fourth grade students in this class

Write in a number.

B. How many of the students in #15A receive

remedial instruction in reading ?

_____________ students

Write in a number.



## 16

How many students in the class are advanced

readers?

_____________ fourth grade students in this class

Write in a number.8 

## 17

In your view, to what extent do the following limit

how you teach this class?

Check one circle for each line.

Not at all

Some

A lot

a) Students lacking prerequisite

knowledge or skills

------------ 

### A A A

b) Students suffering from

lack of basic nutrition

---------- 

### A A A

c) Students suffering from

not enough sleep

-------------- 

### A A A

d) Disruptive students

------------ 

### A A A

e) Uninterested students

--------- 

### A A A

f) Students with physical

disabilities

--------------------- 

### A A A

g) Students with mental,

emotional, or psychological

impairment

-------------------- 

### A A A 

## 18

How often do you do the following in teaching this

class?

Check one circle for each line.

Every or almost every lesson

About half the lessons

Some lessons

Never

a) Relate the lesson to

students’ daily lives

------------ 

### A A A A

b) Ask students to explain

their answers

------------------ 

### A A A A

c) Bring interesting materials

to class

------------------------- 

### A A A A

d) Ask students to complete

challenging exercises

that require them to

go beyond the instruction

----- 

### A A A A

e) Encourage classroom

discussions among

students

------------------------ 

### A A A A

f) Link new content to

students’ prior knowledge

----- 

### A A A A

g) Ask students to decide

their own problem

solving procedures

------------- 

### A A A A

h) Encourage students to

express their ideas in class

----- 

### A A A A9 

## 19

In a typical week, how much time do you spend on

English language instruction and/or activities with

the students?

Include instruction or activities in reading, writing,

speaking, literature, and other language skills.

_____________ minutes per week

Write in the number of minutes per week. Please convert the number

of hours into minutes.



## 20

Regardless of whether or not you have formally

scheduled time for reading instruction, in a typical

week about how much time do you spend on

reading instruction and/or activities with the

students?

Include things you do across curriculum areas and

during formally scheduled time for reading instruction.

_____________ minutes per week

Write in the number of minutes per week. Please convert the number

of hours into minutes. 

### Teaching Reading to the

PIRLS Class



## 21

When you have reading instruction and/or do

reading activities, how often do you organize

students in the following ways?

Check one circle for each line.

Always or almost always

Often

Sometimes

Never

a) I teach reading as a

whole-class activity

----------- 

### A A A A

b) I create same-ability groups

-- 

### A A A A

c) I create mixed-ability groups

-- 

### A A A A

d) I use individualized

instruction for reading

--------- 

### A A A A

e) Students work independently

on an assigned plan or goal

--- 

### A A A A

f) Students work independently

on a goal they choose

themselves

--------------------- 

### A A A A10 

## 23

When you have reading instruction and/or do

reading activities with the students, how often

do you do the following?

Check one circle for each line.

Every day or almost every day

Once or twice a week

Once or twice a

month

Never or

almost never

a) Read aloud to students

-------- 

### A A A A

b) Ask students to read aloud

--- 

### A A A A

c) Ask students to read silently

on their own

------------------- 

### A A A A

d) Teach students strategies for

decoding sounds and words

-- 

### A A A A

e) Teach students new

vocabulary systematically

----- 

### A A A A

f) Teach or model skimming

or scanning strategies

--------- 

### A A A A 

## 22

When you have reading instruction and/or do

reading activities with the students, how often

do you have the students read the following

types of text (in print or digitally)?

Check one circle for each line.

Every day or almost every day

Once or twice a week

Once or twice a

month

Never or

almost never

A. Literary Reading Materials

a) Short stories (e.g., fables, fairy

tales, action stories, science

fiction, detective stories)

------ 

### A A A A

b) Longer fiction books with

chapters

------------------------ 

### A A A A

c) Plays

--------------------------- 

### A A A A

B. Informational Reading

Materials

a) Nonfiction subject area

books or textbooks

------------ 

### A A A A

b) Longer nonfiction books with

chapters

------------------------ 

### A A A A

c) Nonfiction articles that

describe and explain about

things, people, events, or

how things work

-------------- 

### A A A A

d) Authentic materials

(e.g., menus, brochures,

cartoons, newspaper articles,

song lyrics)

--------------------- 

### A A A A11 

## 24

How often do you do the following in teaching this

class?

Check one circle for each line.

Every or almost every lesson

About half the lessons

Some lessons

Never

a) Provide reading materials

that match the

students’ interests

------------- 

### A A A A

b) Encourage students to

develop their understandings

of the text

---------------------- 

### A A A A

c) Allow students to

shift discussion in a

new direction

------------------ 

### A A A A

d) Encourage students to ask

questions that challenge the

opinions of the teacher or

other students

----------------- 

### A A A A

e) Encourage students to

challenge the opinion

expressed in the text

---------- 

### A A A A

f) Use multiple perspectives

(among students, texts,

and other voices) to

enrich understanding

--------- 

### A A A A

g) Give students time to read

books of their own choosing

-- 

### A A A A

h) Give students an opportunity

to explain their answers

to classroom tests

-------------- 

### A A A A

i) Give individualized feedback

to each student

---------------- 

### A A A A 

## 25

How often do you ask the students to do the

following things to help develop reading

comprehension skills or strategies ?

Check one circle for each line.

Every day or almost every day

Once or twice a week

Once or twice a

month

Never or

almost never

a) Locate information within

the text

------------------------ 

### A A A A

b) Identify the main ideas

of what they have read

-------- 

### A A A A

c) Explain or support their

understanding of what they

have read

---------------------- 

### A A A A

d) Compare what they have

read with experiences they

have had

----------------------- 

### A A A A

e) Compare what they have

read with other things they

have read

---------------------- 

### A A A A

f) Make predictions about

what will happen next in the

text they are reading

---------- 

### A A A A

g) Make generalizations and

draw inferences based on

what they have read

----------- 

### A A A A

h) Describe the style or

structure of the text they

have read

---------------------- 

### A A A A

i) Determine the author’s

perspective or intention

------- 

### A A A A12 

## 26

After students have read something, how often do

you ask them to do the following?

Check one circle for each line.

Every day or almost every day

Once or twice a week

Once or twice a

month

Never or

almost never

a) Write something about or

in response to what they

have read

---------------------- 

### A A A A

b) Answer oral questions

about or orally summarize

what they have read

----------- 

### A A A A

c) Talk with each other about

what they have read

----------- 

### A A A A

d) Take a written quiz or test

about what they have read

---- 

### A A A A If Yes,

B. How often do you do the following computer

activities during reading lessons?

Check one circle for each line.

Every day or almost every day

Once or twice a week

Once or twice a

month

Never or

almost

never

a) Ask students to read

digital texts

-------------------- 

### A A A A

b) Teach students strategies

for reading digital texts

------- 

### A A A A

c) Teach students to be

critical when reading on

the Internet

-------------------- 

### A A A A

d) Ask students to look up

information (e.g., facts,

definitions, etc.)

--------------- 

### A A A A

e) Ask students to research

a particular topic

or problem

--------------------- 

### A A A A

f) Ask students to write

stories or other texts

---------- 

### A A A A 

## 27

A. Do the students in this class have computers

(including tablets) available to use during their

reading lessons?

Check one circle only.

Yes, each student has

a computer

--- 

### A

Yes, the class has computers

that students can share

--- 

### A

Yes, the school has

computers that the class

can use sometimes

--- 

### A

No

--- 

### A

(If No, go to #28A) 

### Computer and Library Resources13 

## 28

A. Do you have a library or reading corner in your

classroom ?

Check one circle only.

Yes

--- 

### A

No

--- 

### A

(If No, go to #29)

If Yes,

B. About how many books are in your classroom

library?

Check one circle only.

0–25

--- 

### A

26–50

--- 

### A

51–100

--- 

### A

More than 100

--- 

### A

C. About how many magazines with different titles

are in your classroom library?

Check one circle only.

0

--- 

### A

1–2

--- 

### A

3–5

--- 

### A

More than 5

--- 

### A

D. How often do you give the students in your

class time to use the classroom library or

reading corner?

Check one circle only.

Every day or almost every day

--- 

### A

Once or twice a week

--- 

### A

Once or twice a month

--- 

### A

Never or almost never

--- 

### A

E. Can the students borrow books from the classroom

library or reading corner to take home?

Check one circle only.

Yes

--- 

### A

No

--- 

### A 

## 29

How often do you take or send the students to a

library other than your classroom library?

Check one circle only.

At least once or twice a week

--- 

### A

Once or twice a month

--- 

### A

A few times a year

--- 

### A

Never or almost never

--- 

### A14 Questions 30–32 ask about homework for the

f ourth grade students in this class.



## 30

How often do you assign reading as part of

homework (for any subject)?

Check one circle only.

I do not assign reading

for homework

--- 

### A

(Go to 33)

Less than once a week

--- 

### A

1 or 2 times a week

--- 

### A

3 or 4 times a week

--- 

### A

Every day

--- 

### A



## 31

In general, how much time do you expect students

to spend on homework involving reading (for any

subject) each time you assign it?

Check one circle only.

15 minutes or less

--- 

### A

16–30 minutes

--- 

### A

31–60 minutes

--- 

### A

More than 60 minutes

--- 

### A Reading Homework



## 32

How often do you do the following with the reading

homework assignments for this class?

Check one circle for each line.

Always or almost always

Sometimes

Never or

almost never

a) Correct assignments and give

feedback to students

---------- 

### A A A

b) Discuss the homework

in class

------------------------- 

### A A A

c) Monitor whether or not the

homework was completed

---- 

### A A A Reading Difficulties



## 34

What do you usually do if a student begins to fall

behind in reading?

Check one circle for each line.

Yes

No

a) I have the student work with a specialized

professional (e.g., reading specialist,

speech therapist)

-------------------------------- 

### A A

b) I wait to see if performance improves with

maturation

--------------------------------------- 

### A A

c) I spend more time working on reading

individually with that student

------------------ 

### A A

d) I ask the parents to help the student

with reading

------------------------------------- 

### A A

e) I recommend that the student be

enrolled in a special reading program

---------- 

### A A Questions 33–34 ask about how you deal with

reading difficulties of f ourth grade students in

this class.



## 33

Are the following resources available to you to work

with students who have difficulty with reading?

Check one circle for each line.

Always

Sometimes

Never

a) A specialized professional

(e.g., reading specialist,

speech therapist)

-------------- 

### A A A

b) A teacher-aide

----------------- 

### A A A

c) An adult/parent volunteer

---- 

### A A A15 

## 35

How much emphasis do you place on the

following sources to monitor students’

progress in reading?

Check one circle for each line.

Major emphasis

Some emphasis

Little or no

emphasis

a) Assessment of students’

ongoing work

------------------ 

### A A A

b) Classroom tests (for

example, teacher-made

or textbook tests)

-------------- 

### A A A

c) State or district

achievement tests

------------- 

### A A A Assessing ReadingThank you for the thought, time, and effort you have

put into completing this questionnaire. 

# Thank You

# Grade 4 PROGRESS IN INTERNATIONAL READING LITERACY STUDY

pirls.bc.edu © IEA, 2014

International Association

for the Evaluation of

Educational Achievement 

# Teacher Questionnaire

Field Test VersionIdentification Label

© IEA, 2014 National Center for Education Statistics

U.S. Department of Education

1990 K St., NW

Washington, DC 20006 

# Grade 4 PROGRESS IN INTERNATIONAL READING LITERACY STUDY



# Student

Questionnaire

Field Test Version School ID Class ID Student ID

Checksum ACH BG

Participation Status

According to the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, no persons are required to respond to a collection of information unless such collection displays a valid OMB control

number. The valid OMB control number for this voluntary information collection is 1850-0645. The time required to complete this information collection is estimated to

average 30 minutes per response, including the time to review instructions, and complete and review the information collection. If you have any comments or concerns

regarding the accuracy of the time estimate(s), suggestions for improving the form, or the status of your individual submission of this form, write directly to: Progress in

International Reading Literacy Study (PIRLS), National Center for Education Statistics, U.S. Department of Education, 1990 K Street, N.W., Washington, D.C. 20006.

OMB No. 1850-0645, Approval Expires xx/xx/2017. U.S. participation in this study is sponsored by the National Center for Education

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Sciences Reform Act of 2002 (20 U.S.C., § 9543). Your responses are protected by

federal statute (20 U.S.C., § 9573) and may be used only for statistical purposes and

may not be disclosed, or used, in identifiable form for any other purpose except as

required by law.

### 1 In this booklet, you will find questions about you and what you think. For each

question, you should choose the answer you think is best.

Let us take a few minutes to practice the kinds of questions you will answer in this

booklet.

Example 1 is one kind of question you will find in this booklet.

Example 2 is another kind of question you will find in this booklet. 

# Example 1

Do you go to school?

Fill one circle only.

Yes

-- 

### A

No

-- 

### A



# Example 2

How often do you do these things?

Fill one circle for each line.

Every day Once or Once or Never or

or almost twice a twice a almost

every day week month never

a) I talk with my friends

------------------ 

### A A A A

b) I play sports

------------------------------- 

### A A A A

c) I ride a skateboard

---------------------- 

### A A A A 

# Directions

### 2 Example 3 is another kind of question you will find in this booklet.



# Example 3

What do you think? Tell how much you agree with these

statements.

Fill one circle for each line.

Agree Agree Disagree Disagree

a lot a little a little a lot

a) Watching movies is fun

--------------- 

### A A A A

b) I like eating ice cream

----------------- 

### A A A A

c) I do not like waking up early

-------- 

### A A A A

d) I enjoy doing chores

-------------------- 

### A A A A



# • Read each question carefully, and pick the answer you think is best.



# • Fill in the circle next to or under your answer.



# • If you decide to change your answer, draw an through your first answer,

like this: 

### A

. Then, fill in the circle next to or under your new answer.



# • Ask for help if you do not understand something or are not sure how to

answer.

### 3 

# About you

1

A. Are you a girl or a boy?

Fill one circle only.

Girl

-- 

### A

Boy

-- 

### A

B. Are you Hispanic or Latino?

Fill one circle only.

Yes, I am Hispanic or Latino

-- 

### A

No, I am not Hispanic or Latino

-- 

### A

C. Which of the following best describes you?

Fill one or more circles.

White

-- 

### A

Black or African American

-- 

### A

Asian

-- 

### A

American Indian or Alaska Native

-- 

### A

Native Hawaiian or other Pacific Islander

-- 

### A

### 4 

# 2

When were you born?

Fill the circles next to the month and year you were born.



### a) Month b) Year

January

-- 

### A 2003

-- 

### A

February

-- 

### A 2004

-- 

### A

March

-- 

### A 2005

-- 

### A

April

-- 

### A 2006

-- 

### A

May

-- 

### A 2007

-- 

### A

June

-- 

### A 2008

-- 

### A

July

-- 

### A 2009

-- 

### A

August

-- 

### A Other

-- 

### A

September

-- 

### A

October

-- 

### A

November

-- 

### A

December

-- 

### A

### 5 

# 3

A. How often do you speak English at home?

Fill one circle only.

I always speak

English at home

-- 

### A

I almost always speak

English at home

-- 

### A

I sometimes speak English

and sometimes speak

another language at home

-- 

### A

I never speak English

at home

-- 

### A

B. What language do you speak at home (other than

English)?

Fill one circle only.

Spanish

-- 

### A

Other

-- 

### A

(Please specify)

________________

### 6 

# 4

A. Was your mother (or stepmother or female legal

guardian) born in the United States? (“United

States” includes the 50 states, its territories, the

District of Columbia, and U.S. military bases

abroad.)

Fill one circle only.

Yes

-- 

### A

No

-- 

### A

B. Was your father (or stepfather or male legal

guardian) born in the United States?

Fill one circle only.

Yes

-- 

### A

No

-- 

### A

C. Were you born in the United States?

Fill one circle only.

Yes

-- 

### A

No

-- 

### A

### 7 

# 5

About how many books are there in your home? (Do not

count magazines, newspapers, or your school books.)

Fill one circle only.

None or very few (0–10 books)

-- 

### A This shows 10 books

Enough to fill one shelf (11–25 books)

-- 

### A This shows 25 books

Enough to fill one bookcase

(26–100 books)

-- 

### A This shows 100 books

Enough to fill two bookcases

(101–200 books)

-- 

### A This shows 200 books

Enough to fill three or more bookcases

(more than 200)

-- 

### A This shows more than 200 books

### 8 

# 6

Do you have any of these things at your home?

Fill one circle for each line.

Yes No

a) A computer or tablet

of your own

-------------------------------- 

### A A

b) A computer or tablet

that is shared with other

people at home

--------------------------- 

### A A

c) Study desk/table for your use

-------- 

### A A

d) Your own room

--------------------------- 

### A A

e) Internet connection

--------------------- 

### A A

f) Your own mobile phone

---------------- 

### A A

g) A gaming system (e.g.,

PlayStation®, Wii®, XBox®)

--------- 

### A A

h) VCR, DVD, or Blu-ray player

------- 

### A A

### 9 

# 7

How often do you use a computer or tablet in each of

these places?

Fill one circle for each line.

Every day Once or Once or Never or

or almost twice a twice a almost

every day week month never

a) At home

------------------------------------- 

### A A A A

b) At school

------------------------------------ 

### A A A A

c) Some other place

------------------------ 

### A A A A



# 8

About how often are you absent from school?

Fill one circle only.

Once a week

-- 

### A

Once every two weeks

-- 

### A

Once a month

-- 

### A

Never or almost never

-- 

### A

### 10 

# 9

How often do you feel this way when you arrive at

school?

Fill one circle for each line.

Every Almost

day every day Sometimes Never

a) I feel tired

---------------------------------- 

### A A A A

b) I feel hungry

------------------------------- 

### A A A A



# 10

How often do you eat breakfast on school days?

Fill one circle only.

Every day

-- 

### A

Almost every day

-- 

### A

Sometimes

-- 

### A

Never

-- 

### A

### 11 

# Your School

11

What do you think about your school? Tell how much

you agree with these statements.

Fill one circle for each line.

Agree Agree Disagree Disagree

a lot a little a little a lot

a) I like being in school

-------------------- 

### A A A A

b) I feel safe when I am at school

------ 

### A A A A

c) I feel like I belong at this school

---- 

### A A A A

d) I like to see my classmates

at school

------------------------------------ 

### A A A A

e) Teachers at my school are

fair to me

---------------------------------- 

### A A A A

f) I am proud to go to this school

------- 

### A A A A

g) I learn a lot in school

------------------- 

### A A A A

### 12 

# 12

During this year, how often have other students from

your school done any of the following things to you?

Also, include through texting or the Internet.

Fill one circle for each line.

At least Once or A few

once a twice a times a

week month year Never

a) Made fun of me or

called me names

------------------------- 

### A A A A

b) Left me out of their

games or activities

---------------------- 

### A A A A

c) Spread lies about me

------------------- 

### A A A A

d) Stole something from me

-------------- 

### A A A A

e) Hit or hurt me

( e.g., shoving, hitting, kicking )

------- 

### A A A A

f) Made me do things

I didn’t want to do

----------------------- 

### A A A A

g) Shared embarrassing

information about me

------------------ 

### A A A A

h) Threatened me

--------------------------- 

### A A A A

### 13 

# Lessons about reading

13

Think about the reading you do for school. How much

do you agree with these statements about your

reading lessons ?

Fill one circle for each line.

Agree Agree Disagree Disagree

a lot a little a little a lot

a) I like what I read about in school

--- 

### A A A A

b) My teacher gives me interesting

things to read

----------------------------- 

### A A A A

c) I know what my teacher

expects me to do

------------------------- 

### A A A A

d) My teacher is easy to understand

-- 

### A A A A

e) I am interested in what my

teacher says

------------------------------- 

### A A A A

f) My teacher encourages me to

say what I think about what

I have read

-------------------------------- 

### A A A A

g) My teacher is enthusiastic about

what we read for class

----------------- 

### A A A A

h) My teacher has clear answers to

my questions

------------------------------ 

### A A A A

i) My teacher lets me show what I

have learned

------------------------------- 

### A A A A

j) My teacher does a variety of

things to help us learn

----------------- 

### A A A A

k) My teacher tells me how to do

better when I make a mistake

------- 

### A A A A

l) My teacher listens to what I have

to say

---------------------------------------- 

### A A A A

### 14 

# 14

In school, how often do these things happen?

Fill one circle for each line.

Every day Once or Once or Never or

or almost twice a twice a almost

every day week month never

a) I read silently on my own

------------- 

### A A A A

b) I read things that I choose myself

-- 

### A A A A 

# Reading in school

### 15 

# Using the library

15

How often do you borrow books (including ebooks)

from your school or local library?

Fill one circle only.

At least once a week

-- 

### A

Once or twice a month

-- 

### A

A few times a year

-- 

### A

Never or almost never

-- 

### A

### 16 

# Reading outside of school

16

How much time do you spend reading outside of school

on a normal school day?

Fill one circle only.

Less than 30 minutes

-- 

### A

30 minutes up to 1 hour

-- 

### A

From 1 hour up to 2 hours

-- 

### A

2 hours or more

-- 

### A



# 17

How often do you do these things outside of school ?

Fill one circle for each line.

Every day Once or Once or Never or

or almost twice a twice a almost

every day week month never

a) I read for fun

----------------------------- 

### A A A A

b) I read things that I

choose myself

----------------------------- 

### A A A A

c) I read to find out about things I

want to learn

----------------------------- 

### A A A A

### 17 

# 18

What do you think about reading? Tell how much you

agree with each of these statements.

Fill one circle for each line.

Agree Agree Disagree Disagree

a lot a little a little a lot

a) I read only if I have to

----------------- 

### A A A A

b) I like talking about what I read

with other people

------------------------ 

### A A A A

c) I would be happy if someone gave

me a book as a present

---------------- 

### A A A A

d) I think reading is boring

-------------- 

### A A A A

e) I would like to have more

time for reading

-------------------------- 

### A A A A

f) I enjoy reading

--------------------------- 

### A A A A

g) I learn a lot from reading

------------- 

### A A A A

h) It is important to

be a good reader

------------------------- 

### A A A A

i) I like to read things that

make me think

--------------------------- 

### A A A A

j) I like it when a book helps

me imagine other worlds

-------------- 

### A A A A

k) My parents like it when I read

------ 

### A A A A 

# What you think about reading

### 18 

# 19

How well do you read? Tell how much you agree with

each of these statements.

Fill one circle for each line.

Agree Agree Disagree Disagree

a lot a little a little a lot

a) I usually do well in reading

---------- 

### A A A A

b) Reading is easy for me

----------------- 

### A A A A

c) I have trouble reading

stories with difficult words

----------- 

### A A A A

d) Reading is harder for me than

for many of my classmates

----------- 

### A A A A

e) My teacher tells me I am

a good reader

----------------------------- 

### A A A A

f) Reading is harder for me than

any other subject

------------------------ 

### A A A A

g) I am just not good at reading

-------- 

### A A A A

h) I like to read out loud

to other people

--------------------------- 

### A A A A

i) I can understand hard stories

------- 

### A A A A

### 19 

# Activities outside of school

20

The following questions ask about activities you do

outside of school.

Fill one circle for each line.

Yes No

a) Do you play on a sports

team outside of school?

---------------- 

### A A

b) Do you often play a musical

instrument outside of school?

------- 

### A A

c) Are you studying something

in a class outside of school?

----------- 

### A A

d) Do you belong to a club

outside of school (like

Girl Scouts, Cub Scouts,

4-H, or Boys and Girls Club)?

------- 

### A A

# Thank You!

Thank you for filling out the questionnaire!

# Grade 4 PROGRESS IN INTERNATIONAL READING LITERACY STUDY

pirls.bc.edu © IEA, 2014

International Association

for the Evaluation of

Educational Achievement 

# Student

Questionnaire

Field Test VersionIdentification Label

© IEA, 2014 National Center for Education Statistics

U.S. Department of Education

1990 K St., NW

Washington, DC 20006 

# Grade 4 PROGRESS IN INTERNATIONAL

READING LITERACY STUDY



# Learning to

Read Survey

Field Test Version

U.S. participation in this study is sponsored by the National Center for Education

Statistics (NCES), U.S. Department of Education, and authorized by the Education

Sciences Reform Act of 2002 (20 U.S.C., § 9543). Your responses are protected by

federal statute (20 U.S.C., § 9573) and may be used only for statistical purposes and

may not be disclosed, or used, in identifiable form for any other purpose except as

required by law.

According to the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, no persons are required to

respond to a collection of information unless such collection displays a valid OMB

control number. The valid OMB control number for this voluntary information

collection is 1850-0645. The time required to complete this information collection

is estimated to average 30 minutes per response, including the time to review

instructions, search existing data resources, gather the data needed, and complete

and review the information collection. If you have any comments or concerns

regarding the accuracy of the time estimate(s), suggestions for improving the form,

or the status of your individual submission of this form, write directly to: Progress in

International Reading Literacy Study (PIRLS), National Center for Education Statistics,

U.S. Department of Education, 1990 K Street, N.W., Washington, D.C. 20006.

OMB No. 1850-0645, Approval Expires xx/xx/2017.

# PIRLS 2016 Your child’s class has been selected to participate

in the Progress in International Reading Literacy Study

(PIRLS), a research study about how children learn to

read. PIRLS 2016 is sponsored by the International

Association for the Evaluation of Educational

Achievement (IEA) and is being conducted in more than

40 countries around the world.

This survey asks about your child’s early learning

experiences. We are interested in what you and your

child do together and what you think about different

things related to your child’s school. There are no right

or wrong answers to these questions.

The information being collected will be extremely

useful for helping understand how young children

learn to read and for helping to improve the teaching

and learning of reading for all children. We ask that you

respond to all of the questions you feel comfortable

answering. We would like to reassure you, however, that

your responses to this survey are confidential.

It is estimated that you will need approximately 30

minutes to complete this questionnaire. We appreciate

the time and effort that this takes and thank you for

your cooperation and contribution.

Your response will be combined with those from

other participants to produce summary statistics and

reports. 

## Learning to Read Survey

This survey should be

completed by the child’s

parent or current legal

guardian, or jointly by

both parents or legal

guardians.2 Please turn the page 

## 1

This survey was completed by:

Check one circle for each line.

Yes No

Mother, stepmother, or

female guardian

--------------- 

### A A

Father, stepfather, or

male guardian

----------------- 

### A A

Other

--------------------------- 

### A A3 

## 2

Before your child began primary/elementary

school, how often did you or someone else in

your home do the following activities with him

or her?

Check one circle for each line.

Often

Sometimes

Never or

almost never

a) Read books

-------------------- 

### A A A

b) Tell stories

--------------------- 

### A A A

c) Sing songs

--------------------- 

### A A A

d) Play with alphabet toys

(e.g., blocks with letters

of the alphabet)

--------------- 

### A A A

e) Talk about things you

had done

----------------------- 

### A A A

f) Talk about what you had read

- 

### A A A

g) Play word games

-------------- 

### A A A

h) Write letters or words

--------- 

### A A A

i) Read aloud signs and labels

--- 

### A A A

j) Say counting rhymes or

sing counting songs

----------- 

### A A A

k) Play with number toys

(e.g., blocks with numbers)

--- 

### A A A

l) Count different things

--------- 

### A A A

m) Play games involving

shapes (e.g., shape

sorting toys, puzzles)

---------- 

### A A A

n) Play with building blocks or

construction toys

-------------- 

### A A A

o) Play board or card games

----- 

### A A A

p) Write numbers

----------------- 

### A A A

Before Your Child Began

Primary/Elementary School4 

## 3

A. Was your child born in the United States?

Check one circle only.

Yes

--- 

### A

No

--- 

### A

If No,

B. How old was your child when he/she came to the

United States?

Check one circle only.

Younger than 3 years old

--- 

### A

3 to 5 years old

--- 

### A

6 to 7 years old

--- 

### A

8 years old or older

--- 

### A



## 4

What language did your child speak before

he/she began school?

If your child spoke more than one language check

“Yes” for more than one language.

Check one circle for each line.

Yes No

a) English

------------------------- 

### A A

b) Spanish

------------------------- 

### A A

c) Other

--------------------------- 

### A A

Please specify

_________________ (If Yes, go to #4)5 

## 5

A. Did your child attend the following before first

grade?

Check one circle for each line.

Yes No

a) Early childhood educational

development program for

children under 3

------------------------ 

### A A

b) Pre-primary education program

including Kindergarten

for children age 3 or older

-------------- 

### A A

B. Approximately, how long was your child in these

programs altogether?

Check one circle only.

4 years or more

--- 

### A

3 years

--- 

### A

2 years

--- 

### A

1 year

--- 

### A

Less than 1 year

--- 

### A6 

## 6

How old was your child when he/she began the

first grade of primary/elementary school?

Check one circle only.

5 years old or younger

--- 

### A

6 years old

--- 

### A

7 years old

--- 

### A

8 years old or older

--- 

### A



## 7

How well could your child do the following

when he/she began the first grade of primary/

elementary school?

Check one circle for each line.

Very well

Moderately well

Not very well

Not at all

a) Recognize most of the

letters of the alphabet

--------- 

### A A A A

b) Tell a story

---------------------- 

### A A A A

c) Read some words

-------------- 

### A A A A

d) Read sentences

---------------- 

### A A A A

e) Read a story

-------------------- 

### A A A A

f) Write letters of the alphabet

--- 

### A A A A

g) Write some words

-------------- 

### A A A A Beginning Primary/

Elementary School7 Studying Outside of School

B. How often do you or someone else in your home do

the following things?

Check one circle for each line.

Every day

3 or 4 times a week

1 or 2 times a week

Less than

once a week

Never or

almost

never

a) Ask if your child has done

his/her homework

------------- 

### A A A A A

b) Help your child with

homework

--------------------- 

### A A A A A

c) Review your child’s

homework to make

sure it is correct

---------------- 

### A A A A A 

## 8

A. Approximately, how often does your child do

homework?

Check one circle only.

My child does not

have homework to do

--- 

### A

(If your child does not

have homework, go to #9)

Every day

--- 

### A

3 or 4 times a week

--- 

### A

1 or 2 times a week

--- 

### A

Less than once a week

--- 

### A8 

## 9

A. Since beginning primary school, has your child

attended extra lessons or tutoring outside of

school in school subjects?

Check one circle only.

Yes

--- 

### A

No

--- 

### A

(If No, go to #10)

If Yes,

B. What is the primary reason your child attended

these extra lessons or tutoring?

Check one circle only.

To excel in school

--- 

### A

To not fall behind in school

--- 

### A

Other reason

--- 

### A

C. Is your child currently attending extra lessons

or tutoring?

Check one circle only.

Yes, about 1 hour per week

--- 

### A

Yes, about 2 hours per week

--- 

### A

Yes, about 3 hours per week

--- 

### A

Yes, about 4 hours per week

--- 

### A

Yes, about 5 hours

or more per week

--- 

### A9 

## 10

Please indicate how much you agree with the

following statements.

Check one circle for each line.

Agree a lot

Agree a little

Disagree a little

Disagree

a lot

a) I support school efforts to

maintain high academic

standards

---------------------- 

### A A A A

b) I have high expectations for

my child’s academic success

--- 

### A A A A10 

## 11

What do you think of your child’s school?

Check one circle for each line.

Agree a lot

Agree a little

Disagree a little

Disagree

a lot

a) My child’s school does a

good job including

me in my child’s education

---- 

### A A A A

b) My child’s school provides

a safe environment

------------ 

### A A A A

c) My child’s school cares

about my child’s progress

in school

----------------------- 

### A A A A

d) My child’s school does a

good job informing me

of his/her progress

------------ 

### A A A A

e) My child’s school does a

good job in helping him/her

become better in reading

----- 

### A A A A Your Child’s School11 

## 12

In a typical week, how much time do you usually

spend reading for yourself at home, including

books, magazines, newspapers, and materials for

work (in print or digital media)?

Check one circle only.

Less than one hour a week

--- 

### A

1–5 hours a week

--- 

### A

6–10 hours a week

--- 

### A

More than 10 hours a week

--- 

### A



## 13

When you are at home, how often do you read for

your own enjoyment?

Check one circle only.

Every day or almost every day

--- 

### A

Once or twice a week

--- 

### A

Once or twice a month

--- 

### A

Never or almost never

--- 

### A Literacy in the Home12 

## 14

Please indicate how much you agree with the

following statements about reading.

Check one circle for each line.

Agree a lot

Agree a little

Disagree a little

Disagree

a lot

a) I read only if I have to

---------- 

### A A A A

b) I like talking about what

I read with other people

------- 

### A A A A

c) I like to spend my spare

time reading

------------------- 

### A A A A

d) I read only if I need

information

-------------------- 

### A A A A

e) Reading is an important

activity in my home

----------- 

### A A A A

f) I would like to have more

time for reading

--------------- 

### A A A A

g) I enjoy reading

----------------- 

### A A A A

h) Reading is one of my

favorite hobbies

--------------- 

### A A A A13 

## 15

About how many books are there in your home?

(Do not count ebooks, magazines, newspapers or

children’s books.)

Check one circle only.

0–10

--- 

### A

11–25

--- 

### A

26–100

--- 

### A

101–200

--- 

### A

More than 200

--- 

### A



## 16

About how many children’s books are there in

your home? (Do not count ebooks, children’s

magazines or school books.)

Check one circle only.

0–10

--- 

### A

11–25

--- 

### A

26–50

--- 

### A

51–100

--- 

### A

More than 100

--- 

### A14 

## 17

A. Do you have a device that you use for reading

ebooks (e.g., an e-reader, a tablet, a computer)?

Check one circle only.

Yes

--- 

### A

No

--- 

### A

B. Do you have a device that your child can use for

reading ebooks?

Check one circle only.

Yes

--- 

### A

No

--- 

### A



## 18

How many digital information devices are

there in your home? Count computers, tablets,

smartphones, smart TVs, and e-readers. (Do not

count other devices.)

Check one circle only.

None

--- 

### A

1-3 devices

--- 

### A

4-6 devices

--- 

### A

7-10 devices

--- 

### A

More than 10 devices

--- 

### A15 

## 19

When talking at home with your child, what

language does the child’s father (or stepfather or

male guardian) use? What language does

the child’s mother (or stepmother or female

guardian) use?

Check all that apply.

Child’s father Child’s mother

a) English

---------------------------------- 

### A A

b) Spanish

--------------------------------- 

### A A

c) Other

------------------------------------ 

### A A

Please specify

______________________



## 20

How often does your child speak English at

home?

Check one circle only.

Always

--- 

### A

Almost always

--- 

### A

Sometimes

--- 

### A

Never

--- 

### A16 Additional Information



## 21

What is the highest level of education completed

by the child’s father (or stepfather or male

guardian) and mother (or stepmother or female

guardian)?

Check one circle only.

Child’s father Child’s mother

a) Did not complete high school

---------- 

### A A

b) Completed high school

----------------- 

### A A

c) Completed a vocational/

technical certificate

after high school

----------------------- 

### A A

d) Completed an Associate’s

degree (AA) in vocational/

technical program

---------------------- 

### A A

e) Completed a 2-year

college or university

degree (i.e., Associate’s

degree)

--------------------------------- 

### A A

f) Completed a 4-year

college or university

degree (i.e., Bachelor’s

degree)

--------------------------------- 

### A A

g) Completed an academic

Master’s degree, postgraduate

certificate program (e.g.,

teaching) or first professional

degree (e.g., law, medicine,

dentistry)

------------------------------- 

### A A

h) Completed a doctorate

(Ph.D. or Ed.D)

--------------------------- 

### A A

i) Not applicable

-------------------------- 

### A A17 

## 22

How far in his/her education do you expect your

child to go?

Check one circle only.

Finish high school

--- 

### A

Finish a vocational/technical

certificate after high school

--- 

### A

Finish an Associate’s degree

(AA) in vocational/technical program

--- 

### A

Finish a 2-year college or university

egree (i.e., Associate’s degree)

--- 

### A

Finish a 4-year college or university

degree (i.e., Bachelor’s degree)

--- 

### A

Finish an academic Master’s degree,

postgraduate certificate program (e.g.,

teaching) or first professional degree

(e.g., law, medicine, dentistry)

--- 

### A

Finish a doctorate (Ph.D. or Ed.D)

--- 

### A18 

## 23

Which best describes the employment situation

of the child’s father (or stepfather or male

guardian) and mother (or stepmother or female

guardian)?

Check one circle in each column.

Child’s father Child’s mother

a) Working at least full-time

for pay (this could be one

or more full-time jobs or

several part-time jobs that

add up to full-time work)

-------------- 

### A A

b) Working part-time only for pay

-------- 

### A A

c) Not working for pay

-------------------- 

### A A

d) Other

------------------------------------ 

### A A

e) Not applicable

-------------------------- 

### A A19 

## 24

What kind of work do the child’s father

(or stepfather or male guardian) and mother

(or stepmother or female guardian) do for their

main jobs?

For each, check the circle for the job category that best describes

what he/she does (opposite page). Each category has a few

examples to help you decide the correct category. If the father or

mother is not working now, think about the last job he/she had.20 

## 24

Check one circle in each column.

Child’s Child’s

father mother

a) Has never worked for pay

-------------- 

### A A

b) Small Business Owner

------------------- 

### A A

Includes owners of small businesses (fewer than 25

employees) such as retail shops, services, restaurants

c) Clerk

------------------------------------------ 

### A A

Includes office clerks; secretaries; typists; data entry operators;

customer service clerks

d) Service or Sales Worker

----------------- 

### A A

Includes travel attendants; restaurant service workers;

personal care workers; protective service workers; junior

military and police; salespersons; street vendors

e) Skilled Agricultural or

Fishery Worker

---------------------------- 

### A A

Includes farmers; forestry workers; fishery workers; hunters

and trappers

f) Craft or Trade Worker

-------------------- 

### A A

Includes builders, carpenters, plumbers, electricians,

metal workers; machine mechanics; handicraft workers

g) Plant or Machine Operator

------------ 

### A A

Includes plant and machine operators;

assembly-line operators; motor-vehicle drivers

h) General Laborers

------------------------- 

### A A

Includes domestic helpers and cleaners; building caretakers;

messengers, porters, and doorkeepers; farm, fishery,

agricultural, and construction workers

i) Corporate Manager or

Senior Official

----------------------------- 

### A A

Includes corporate managers such as managers of large

companies (25 or more employees) or managers of

departments within large companies; legislators or senior

government officials; senior officials of special-interest

organizations; military officers

j) Professional

-------------------------------- 

### A A

Includes scientists; mathematicians; computer scientists;

architects; engineers; life science and health professionals;

teachers; legal professionals; social scientists; writers and

artists; religious professionals

k) Technician or Associate

Professional

-------------------------------- 

### A A

Includes science, engineering, and computer associates and

technicians; life science and health technicians and assistants;

teacher aides; finance and sales associate professionals;

business service agents; administrative assistants

l) Not applicable

----------------------------- 

### A A (continued)Thank You

Thank you for taking the time

to fill out this survey.

# Grade 4 PROGRESS IN INTERNATIONAL

READING LITERACY STUDY



# Learning to

Read Survey

pirls.bc.edu © IEA, 2014

International Association

for the Evaluation of

Educational Achievement 

# Field Test Version