Evaluating Academic Characteristics

Evaluating academic characteristics promotes success in schools through active reflection on student's strengths and weaknesses and then allowing for opportunities to individualize and implement effective accommodations for individuals. It encourages teachers to become active in the education of individual students, as well as administrators and other team players to come together to support a child.

This semester, I took Evaluating Academic Characteristics with Rob Schulze, with the thought that the curriculum content would be around the formal assessment known as the Woodcock Johnson. Through this course however, I have had the opportunity to have an in-depth look at various assessments through all grade levels, IEP accommodations, IEP Goals, how to understand and interpret test scores, as well as problem solve specific student needs through in class and out of class assignments. This encouraged me to think critically about how I can best support a student in a realistic and effective manner. I appreciated connecting the knowledge of disabilities between learning disabilities and behavioral disabilities as qualifiers for IEP's and how accommodations would vary depending on the situation.

Prior to this class, I was not able to interpret assessment scores to extrapolate learning disabilities and strengths. I know feel that I have acquired the knowledge necessary to effectively interpret data, assess student needs, develop strategies for the student, as well as link the connection between assessment scores and individualized instruction opportunities.

In the future, I feel confident that I can look at a WCJ score, or any evaluation that utilizes the reviewed scoring system (T-scores, Standard scores, Percentiles, Stanines, etc) and be able to identify information that will help further my student's academic and behavioral success.