Question
In about 1 page, respond thoughtfully to the following question
1. Why is it important to assess students? Why is it important to provide testing modifications to students with special needs? Where do you look or go to determine what a special education students’ test mods are?
2. (page 263) What are the 4 basic areas where testing adaptations are provided? What category of these adaptations do the following fall into and what do they mean? (a.) “Extended time: Time and a half” (b.)”Alternate location with minimal distractions” (c.) “Tests read to student” (d.) “Scribe writes down student responses”: (The only source that can be used for this assignment is “Teaching Students with Special Needs in Inclusive Classrooms” by Bryant, Bryant, and Smith)
Please be direct and concise. No unnecessary definition and discussions. Only focus on the subject matter since this is just a short paper, which quire question and answer
Solution
Journal 9
Why do we assess students?
Teachers and other examiners assess students to detect their strengths and weaknesses. Moreover, the assessment helps to ascertain their relative standing in class compared with the other scholars. Assessing students is done to update instructional efforts, which helps to keep track of their progress. Consequently, evaluation is a way of identifying disabilities and verifying the program’s eligibility, (Bryant et al. 603). Finally, the appraisal assists in grading and determining the annual yearly progress of the student.
Why are testing modifications important for special needs students, and how are they determined?
Testing modifications ensure fairness in academics, which gives each student a chance to succeed. Various ways are used to determine special education student’s test modifications. They include the use of various assessment tests, such as norm-referenced, criterion-referenced, screen, diagnostic, and non-referenced tests (Bryant et al. 642). Another way is through the use of work samples, which are assignments given to students.
Notably, observations can be used where the teacher observes the students and makes judgments. Moreover, school records are used to give academic and historical background of the student, and additional information is obtained from interviews with the learners’ parents or guardians. Therefore, any credible source of information is utilized to ensure that the modifications are aligned to the learners’ needs.
What are the four basic areas where testing adaptations are provided?
Basic adaptation areas include: input adaptations, output adaptations, time and schedule adaptations, and location adaptations. In addition, there is an academic adaptation, which has various terms, such as extended time. Specifically, time-and-a-half falls under time and schedule adaptation since it means that people with disabilities are allowed more time and longer breaks to finish tasks(Bryant et al. 657). Secondly, alternate location with minimal distractions, which is under the location adaptation, the setting of scholars with limitations may be changed to suit their needs. The test read to students is under input adaptations, where the teacher examines the listening and reading skills. Finally, the scribe writes down pupils’ responses under output adaptations, where the teacher adjusts the responses to their questions.
Work Cited
Bryant, Diane Pedrotty, et al. Teaching Students with Special Needs in Inclusive Classrooms. Sage Publications, 2017.