What assessments are critical for the start of the year? The start of the year is crazy enough that the thought of cramming in some all important year-defining assessment seems as inviting as attending a professional development session on a Sunday. But some assessments are worth the hassle. Some assessments are actually useful. That’s the key – you want the assessment to give you information that can help you plan goals and programs for your student.
Tips to Beginning of the Year Assessments:
- Start small. Set small and manageable goals related to assessment. Don’t try to get your whole class done in one week. Don’t try giving each student 5 different assessments.
- Prioritize. Focus on your newer students or more challenging behaviors. Figure out which assessments are most important to give first. Maybe some are mandated by your district and you don’t have a choice.
- Pick and Choose. You don’t need to give the same assessment to every student. Do what works for each student and his IEP.
- Break it up. I find that the most successful way of giving assessments is to work it into the students’ regular daily schedule. I give short sections of the assessment during my direct instruction time so for the student it just seems like “work tasks.”
- Take your time. You don’t need to get everything done in the first week. Heck, you don’t even need to get it all done in the first month. You would rather take your time and get the assessments done right than rush and have them done crappily.
Assessments I do in the Beginning of the Year (not for all students, not by the first day of school):
- Assessment of Basic Language and Learning: ABLLS stands for the assessment of basic language and learning skills. It’s assessment, curriculum guide, and tracking program for children with language delays. I use this for my lower level students. Here is more info:
- Fountas and Pinnel Reading Assessment to assess Guided Reading Level
- Fluency Assessment – I like this book. They have super quick fluency snapshots that are really easy to give.
- Words their Way Spelling Assessment
… and of course I have some “district mandated” tests that I have to do but I won’t bore you with those details. Hate to say it (but I will) – I get no meaningful info from that assessment. But sometimes you gotta do what you gotta do.
What are your Beginning of the Year Assessments?
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5 Responses
I use the VB-MAPP and LOVE it!!!
Do you have any advice for beginning of the year math assessments?
Love the VB-MAPP! 🙂
Sasha what a nice start of the year assessments. Very helpful and wonderful to use. May you please send me an observation assessment checklist for autism class.
Kind regards
Hi there! Glad this is helpful. I don’t have an observation assessment checklist but will work on one!