Chapter 5 Gathering Preliminary Assessment Data

2 Teacher Interview Topics to focus on… Topics to focus on… Student’s learning style Student’s learning style Effects of classroom environment/peer interactions Effects of classroom environment/peer interactions Strengths and areas needing remediation Strengths and areas needing remediation Accommodations/modifications that have Accommodations/modifications that have been tried and have or have not worked been tried and have or have not worked to ameliorate problem areas. to ameliorate problem areas.

3 Parent Interview Focus of Interview Focus of Interview Child’s diagnosis Child’s diagnosis Reaction of others to the disability Reaction of others to the disability Developmental milestones Developmental milestones Efforts to obtain services Efforts to obtain services Medical, educational, social history Medical, educational, social history Family stresses and support systems Family stresses and support systems Cultural, ethnic, and linguistic issues Cultural, ethnic, and linguistic issues

4 Record Review Cumulative Files Cumulative Files History of schools attended Group test results Report cards/narrative reports Attendance & disciplinary records Remedial instruction reports

5 Record Review-cont. Confidential Files Confidential Files Records of classified students Evaluation result records Individual Evaluation Plans (IEPs) Classification conference reports Evaluation plan, informed consent Notification forms

6 Record Review-cont. Health Record Health Record Medical history checklist Auditory and visual acuity reports Health status Allergies

7 WORK SAMPLE ANALYSIS Systematic collection of student’s work Systematic collection of student’s work Also referred to as a p ermanent products Also referred to as a p ermanent products Focus on quality and quantity Focus on quality and quantity Used to compare test results to everyday Used to compare test results to everyday assignment output assignment output Examples include: * in-class assignments, * teacher-made tests, * in-class assignments, * teacher-made tests, * homework * audiotapes/videotapes, * homework * audiotapes/videotapes, * workbook pages, * photos of work products, * essays, * drawings/paintings

8 Student Classroom Observation Multidimensional perspective Multidimensional perspective Observe in authentic situations Observe in authentic situations Different group situations Different group situations Different times of the day Different times of the day Different subject area Different subject area One-to-one vs. group settings One-to-one vs. group settings

9 Observation of Visual and Auditory Skills Acuity Skills Acuity Skills Visual and Auditory Efficiency – ability to see and hear clearly and take in information for sustained periods of time Visual and Auditory Efficiency – ability to see and hear clearly and take in information for sustained periods of time Perceptual/Processing Skills Perceptual/Processing Skills Discrimination- distinguish subtle differences Discrimination- distinguish subtle differences Closure– complete missing part/perceive wholes Closure– complete missing part/perceive wholes Sequence- appropriately order stimuli Sequence- appropriately order stimuli Figure-ground- perceive one unit or group of units (pictures/words) against a background Figure-ground- perceive one unit or group of units (pictures/words) against a background Memory- ability to retain or recall information Memory- ability to retain or recall information

10 Test Taking behavior Observation Focus on student’s… Focus on student’s… Behavior Behavior Attention to task Attention to task Attitude Attitude Interaction skills Interaction skills Communication skill Communication skill Important for determining reliability and validity of test results Important for determining reliability and validity of test results

11 Analysis of Classroom Environment Class environment plays a strong role in the learning process. Class environment plays a strong role in the learning process. Focus on… Focus on… Classroom set-up Classroom set-up Student seating arrangements/grouping Student seating arrangements/grouping Ease of access to materials Ease of access to materials Visuals, posted rules and helpful hints Visuals, posted rules and helpful hints Lighting, temperature, extraneous noise Lighting, temperature, extraneous noise

12 Student Interview Opportunity to observe… Opportunity to observe… oral language oral language vocabulary development and syntax vocabulary development and syntax information processing ability information processing ability attention to task attention to task listening skills listening skills Provides insight into… Provides insight into… ability to communicate ability to communicate ability to confront, analyze, solve problems ability to confront, analyze, solve problems