Use a variety of formal and informal assessments in your elementary classroom.
Assessment results play a key role in a student's educational experience. Some diagnostic assessments are designed to assess a student for a specific disability, while others demonstrate mastery of a subject or show what he needs to learn in future coursework. Many techniques and methods are used to assess elementary students, and employing this variety gives you an overall pictures of the child's achievement in many academic and social areas.
Developmental Scales
Developmental scales demonstrate the elementary student's ability to perform certain skills in a given area. They are listed in a chronological order, and therefore provide a clear picture of the student's developmental level of achievement. For a young elementary student, this type of assessment ensures all appropriate milestones are met and that the student is developmentally ready for elementary-level academic material.
Norm-Referenced
Norm-referenced tests compare the results of a student's performance among other similar students. Elementary students often participate in state or national-level norm-referenced tests. IQ tests are also an example of this type of diagnostic assessment. Results of these tests allow parents and teachers to see how the student compares to others in areas such as reading, math and science. While these tests provide one aspect of the child's performance, it is important to take into consideration other factors such as test anxiety when interpreting the results.
Criterion-Referenced
Criterion-referenced tests are based on the individual child's level of performance, and not that of other students her age. The criteria for mastery of each tested item is predetermined, and the goal of this diagnostic assessment is to determine the social or academic proficiency of the elementary-aged child. Criterion-referenced tests may be based on district or state grade-level standards in your area.
Classroom Observation
Informal classroom observation provides you with a unique form of diagnostic assessment. Observing the child in his natural learning environment affords you the benefit of watching him on a day-to-day basis, rather than assessing him during an isolated occasion. Detailed notes should be taken of the child's behavior or academic difficulties throughout the year. For an elementary student, this gives you the opportunity to asses the child for both academic and social needs in the classroom.
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