Rapid Automatized Naming (RAN) Overview

In Rapid Color Naming assessments, students name a series of colors. The RCN measure has extended timing (90 seconds), and is comprised of a random sequencing of five colored boxes that young students can recognize and name easily.

• The assessment consists of two forms of 40 color blocks - blue, red, yellow, black, and green - presented in a nonrepeating pattern, without replacement for every five items (e.g., each five-block set of colors will include one instance of each color).
• Scored as number of colors correctly named per minute.

In Rapid Picture Naming assessments, students name a series of pictures; this checks the student's speed naming known items. The RPN measure is one minute in length, and asks the student to name five easily recognized pictures, again in random sequences.

• The student names up to 120 instances of five easy-to-identify pictures, with the five pictures presented in successive sets with random sequencing of the five pictures in each set.
• Scored as number of pictures correctly named per minute.
• The five selected images are:
  • Within ranks of lowest-difficulty items for preschool children in Picture Naming, a measure of oral language from Star myIGDIs.
  • One-syllable labels.
  • Non-ambiguous photos that can be presented in square or vertical rectangle.
  • Having little semantic or phonological similarity across selected items (e.g., not cat and dog, not hat and bat).

In Rapid Letter Naming assessments, students name uppercase letters; five known letters are used on the form. The RLN measure is one minute in length, and asks the student to name the five easily recognizable letters in random sequences.

• The student names up to 100 instances of five easy-to-identify letters (A, C, O, T, and S), with the five letters presented in successive sets on individual rows with random sequencing of the five letters in each set.
• Scored as number of letters correctly named per minute.
• The five letters are easy to say in both English and Spanish; letter placement rules include:
  • Across the entire form, each letter occurs with equal frequency.
  • No letter appears in the same row more than twice.
  • No letter appears in the same position in consecutive rows.
  • A letter will not repeat within a row before two other distinct letters are shown.
  • Letters are arranged to avoid making a legitimate word when possible.
• Letters were chosen based on research and data from the Star Letter Naming measure, and capital letters with high percentages correct were identified. Visual discrimination and pronunciation in English and Spanish were also factored in.
• Braille forms are available in training and resources.

In Rapid Number Naming assessments, students name numbers; five known single-digit numbers are used on the form. The RNN measure is a one-minute assessment, in which the student names the five easily recognizable numbers, again in random sequences.

• The student names up to 100 instances of five easy-to-identify numbers (1, 2, 3, 7, and 8), with the five numbers presented in successive sets on individual rows, with random sequencing of the five numbers in each set.
• Scored as number of numbers correctly named per minute.
• The five numbers are easy to say in both English and Spanish; number placement rules include:
  • Across the entire form, each numeral occurs with equal frequency.
  • No number appears in the same row more than twice.
  • No number appears in the same position in consecutive rows.
  • A number will not repeat within a row before two other distinct numbers are shown.
  • The digits 1, 2, and 3 are not arranged in ascending or descending order on any row.
• Numbers were chosen based on research and data from the Star Numeral Recognition measure, and numbers with high percentages correct were identified. Visual discrimination and pronunciation in English and Spanish were also factored in.
• Braille forms are available in training and resources. 

• Place the student test form in front of the student.
• Point to the first five objects in the first row on the student's form and say: "Tell me the names of these [letters/pictures/colors/numbers]."
• If the student misidentifies an object, say: "No, that [letter/picture/color/number] is [name]. Let's try again." Begin again by pointing to the leftmost object in the first row. Say: "Tell me the names of these [letters/pictures/colors/numbers]."
• If the student cannot name all five objects on the first or second try, or, for picture or color testing, has a documented diagnoses of color blindness, do not administer the assessment. Click the Cancel button to exit the assessment.
• Note. If you are required to submit a score for this assessment, but the student cannot correctly name all five objects, see the Discontinue section for steps to follow.
• If the student successfully completed the practice, say: "You did a great job! Now, we're going to try some more [letters/pictures/colors/numbers]."
• Point to the first object in the first row on the student's form and say: "Now, name all the [letters/pictures/colors/numbers] on this page. Start here and name the [letters/pictures/colors/numbers] in each row as quickly and carefully as you can. You may begin."
• Click the Start Timer button.
• Click on each object that is incorrectly named.
• If the student reaches the end of the assessment before the time expires, click the Stop Timer button. Otherwise, allow the student to continue until the timer expires.
  • Rapid Picture Naming only: If the student reaches the end of the student test form before the timer expires, have the student begin again at the top of the form and continue naming pictures. If the student reaches the end of the student test form again before the timer expires, click the Stop Timer button. Otherwise, allow the student to continue until the timer expires.
• Say: "Stop! You worked hard!" or give some other praise for effort.
• Mark the last item attempted. Record any observations by clicking on Add Note. Finally, click Submit Test.

If you are required to submit a score for this assessment, but the student cannot correctly name all five objects, follow these steps:

• In the Timing section of the online record form (right side), select Paper-Pencil.
• In the Time take (secs) field, enter 0.
• Click on the first item, then click on Mark Last Word in the Scoring section (right side).
• Click on the first item again to mark it incorrect. (The score summary beneath the test items will show 1 item taken, 0 items correct, 0% accuracy, and 0 correct per minute.)
• Record any observations, including why the assessment was discontinued, by clicking on Add note.
• Click Submit test.

Errors

• If the student makes errors while attempting the first five objects, provide the correct name and have the student try again.
• If the student can't correctly name all five objects after correction on the second try, and/or, for picture or color testing, has a documented diagnosis of color blindness, do not administer the assessment.
• If you are required to submit a score for this assessment, but the student cannot correctly name all five objects, follow the steps outlined in the Discontinue section.

Self-correction

If immediate, count as correct.

(Rapid Picture Naming) Student names all pictures in less than one minute

If the student names all the pictures on the student test form before the timer expires, have them begin at the top of the form again and continue naming pictures.