Final answer:
Children being administered an Informal Reading Inventory typically begin the word list independently, allowing for an unassisted assessment of their reading abilities.
Step-by-step explanation:
The question refers to the administration of an Informal Reading Inventory (IRI), which is a tool used to assess a student's reading level and comprehension abilities. According to the Opitz text, children usually begin the word list independently, meaning they start reading the list by themselves without assistance or prompts from the administrator. This independent approach allows educators to better assess the child's ability to recognize and pronounce words without external influence, thus providing a clearer picture of the student's reading level.