Educating Parents on Assessments Game Presentation

PRESENTATION-Marsha Moore

Educating Parents on Assessments- Empowering Families to Understand and Advocate for Their Children

PRESS START

Seminar Objectives

HI-SCORE

This seminar is all about equipping you with the knowledge and tools to support your child’s education effectively. Our goals are:

• To help you understand the purpose of educational assessments and what they measure.

• To show you how to interpret assessment results and use them to guide your child’s Individualized Education Program (IEP).
• To provide strategies for communicating effectively with educators during IEP meetings.
• To introduce tools for tracking progress and collaborating with your child’s school.

© 2024 Marsha Moore

232323

Cognitive Assessments

Cognitive assessments evaluate your child’s intellectual abilities, such as reasoning, problem-solving, memory, and processing speed. For example, the WISC-V (Wechsler Intelligence Scale for Children) is a common tool used to identify strengths and challenges in these areas (Rios & Burke, 2020). Purpose: These assessments help us understand how your child learns. For instance, a child who excels in verbal reasoning might benefit from discussion-based learning, while a challenge in working memory might require additional support with instructions. How It Helps: Results from cognitive assessments guide accommodations, like extra time on tests or visual aids, to create a learning environment where your child can thrive.

Behavioral Assessments

Behavioral assessments examine how your child interacts with others and manages emotions. The BASC-3 (Behavior Assessment System for Children) is an example of a tool used to assess behaviors like anxiety, self-regulation, and social skills (Musendo et al., 2023). Purpose: These assessments help identify patterns, such as difficulty managing emotions or challenges interacting with peers, which may affect your child’s learning experience. How It Helps: The insights gained can inform interventions, such as social skills training or classroom strategies, to support emotional and behavioral development.

Academic Assessments

Academic assessments track your child’s progress in areas like reading, writing, and math. The Woodcock-Johnson IV is an example of a test that measures these skills and identifies areas where additional support may be needed (Miranda & Avnet, 2019). Purpose: These assessments highlight specific academic challenges, such as difficulty with phonics in reading, allowing for targeted interventions. How It Helps: Results provide clear goals for educators and parents to work on together, ensuring your child gets the right support to meet grade-level expectations.

Why Assessments Matter

Here’s why they matter:

• Inform IEP Development: Assessments provide a foundation for setting realistic, measurable goals.
• Foster Collaboration: They create opportunities for meaningful discussions between parents and educators.
• Highlight Strengths and Needs: Assessments identify what your child excels at and where they need help.
• Enable Early Intervention: Identifying challenges early ensures timely support, improving long-term outcomes (Johnson, 2024).

Assessment reports often feel overwhelming, but breaking them down can help: Overview Section: Explains the purpose and general findings of the assessment. Scores Section: Focus on percentile ranks and standard scores to understand where your child stands. Recommendations Section: Provides specific, actionable steps to support your child (Johnson, 2024)

Decoding Assessment Reports

Understanding Test Scores...

• Standard Score: Compares performance to peers; the average is 85–115.
• Percentile Rank: Shows rank compared to peers; 50th percentile is average.
• Scaled Score: Used for subtests; average is 7–13.Child performed better than 60% of their peers, which can be seen as a strength.

Communication and Advocacy

Effective communication is key to advocating for your child. Here’s how:

• Before Meetings: Review assessment reports and write down questions, like “How can we address this challenge together?”
• During Meetings: Use collaborative language that focuses on solutions rather than problems (Epstein & Salinas, 2004).
• Highlight Strengths: Start discussions with your child’s achievements to set a positive tone.

Practice..

Practice advocating confidently by role-playing a parent-teacher meeting with a partner.

Tools for Tracking Progress

75%

Tracking your child’s progress ensures their educational plan stays effective:

• Progress Charts: Help visualize growth in key areas over time.
• Communication Logs: Document discussions and follow-ups with teachers.
• Apps: Tools like ClassDojo or Seesaw allow real-time goal tracking and communication (Miranda & Avnet, 2019).

The Process

IEP/Evaluation Continuum

This is an ongoing process.Reevaluations occur every three years.

+ INFO

INTERACTIVE QUESTION

CONCLUSION/Key Takeaways

• Assessments provide essential insights into strengths and challenges.
• Use what you’ve learned today to advocate confidently and collaborate with educators.

References

• Epstein, J. L., & Salinas, K. C. (2004). Partnering with families and communities. Educational Leadership, 61(8), 12–18.
• Johnson, J. L. (2024). Lack of parental involvement in special education: Knocking down the barriers. [Master’s thesis Bethel University].
• Miranda, H., & Avnet, R. (2019). The impact of parental education and involvement on students with special needs academic achievement. Journal of Research in Special Educational Needs, 18(4), 247–258.
• Musendo, D. J., et al. (2023). Interventions promoting parent involvement in the education of children with disabilities. International Centre for Evidence in Disability.
• Rios, K., & Burke, M. M. (2020). The effectiveness of special education training programs for parents of children with disabilities: A systematic literature review. Journal of Special Education, 54(3), 215–231.

Please complete the Post Test-Thank you

The End