I was on Facebook, as one does in my generation, and I saw this tool called the PAST shared in a Facebook group of speech-language pathologists. I thought this might be a perfect for readers of my blog (I have no relationship with the authors).
We know how important phonological awareness is. The ability to recognize and manipulate sounds in spoken words is critical for reading success. As educators and SLPs, identifying a student’s strengths and challenges is how we tailor effective interventions. That’s where the PAST comes in…
What is the PAST?
The Phonological Awareness Screening Test (PAST) is a straightforward tool designed to assess a student’s phonological awareness. Unlike many other assessments, the PAST focuses exclusively on phonological skills. Dr. David Kilpatrick, an expert in literacy and reading interventions, developed the PAST. Dr. Kilpatrick is the author of *Equipped for Reading Success*, a comprehensive guide for educators and specialists looking to improve students’ reading outcomes.
One feature of the PAST is its accessibility. The test is simple to administer and easy to interpret. Also, it could be valuable for progress monitoring. As students develop their phonological skills, the PAST can be re-administered to track improvements and refine intervention approaches.
Check out the official website https://thepasttest.com. It provides detailed information about the test and how to use it effectively. For those looking to dive deeper, I recommend visiting Dr. Kilpatrick’s main website, Equipped for Reading Success. There, you’ll find additional resources about his programs.
While I haven’t yet used the PAST myself, it’s clear that this tool could be useful. Its focus on phonological awareness, combined with being relatively easy to use, makes it an option for anyone working to support literacy development. Have you used the PAST or similar tools in your work? I’d love to hear your experiences in the comments below!