Academic assessmentsFiguring Out What’s In the Box

There are many parts to the whole student

and sometimes we need help ‘solving’ the puzzles

prior knowledge

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What are academic tests?

• What is their purpose?

prior knowledge

• Did you have any new learning?

What is this?

� Classroom vs. specialized academic assessments (SERT and/or psychologist/psychometrist)

� We need to look at the what, the why, and how

Tiering your approach

There are three levels to teaching and assessing:

1. Classroom: understand your learners, socially, academically, emotionally, and their learning skills

this guides your instruction and assessment

2. SERT

3. Psychologist/psychometrist

Getting to know your learners

• You should know your students’:

interests

strengths, needs and abilities in reading; writing; oral and other types of communication; math (computational, organizational, number facts, spatial, geometric, etc.); executive functioning; memory; attention; concentration; behaviour; physical abilities (vision, hearing, listening, motor skills, etc.), and others

learning styles/multiple intelligences

examples of classroom assessments

Reading: DRA, PM Benchmark

Writing: EQAO, OWA (Ontario Writing Assessment)

Math: EQAO, various diagnostics, Initial Mathematics Assessment Tool for English Language Learners, Grades K – 8

All of the above: Ontario Curriculum Exemplars

non-academic options, online

Multiple Intelligences surveys: One, Two, Three

Interest Surveys: One, Two, Three

Why do these tests?

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Why do these tests?

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When are classroom tests insufficient?

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why academic testing?

standardized measure

takes out classroom variables

looks at specific skills and abilities, so you can compare ability and achievement

enables you to choose specific strategies that target the appropriate areas, and use the student’s strengths to improve achievement

does NOT provide a ‘label’ for the student

paves the way for further testing

PPVT

Peabody Picture Vocabulary Test, version 4 (2006)

It is an untimed test of verbal vocabulary

Good for a quick estimate of a student’s verbal ability or aptitude: can be done in 20-30 minutes, or less

Great for students with reading or writing deficiencies: easier and more accurate, because it’s based on pictures

WiaT-II or -III

Weschler Individual Achievement Test

Reading, Writing, Oral Language, and Math

Twelve subsections: Word reading, Reading comprehension, Pseudowords; Alphabet writing fluency, Spelling, Sentence composition, Essay composition; Listening comprehension, Oral reading fluency; Math problem solving, numerical operations, math fluency

When you need to know more

Talk to your SERT!

Growth Plans

In-School Team

Academic (and other) testing

IEP

IPRC process

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