A Comprehensive Guide for Diagnosticians: Selecting Formal Assessment Batteries and Supporting Student Success

As diagnosticians, our role is crucial in identifying and supporting students with potential specific learning disabilities (SLD). With the diverse needs of students in mind, selecting appropriate formal assessment batteries is essential. Moreover, providing comprehensive achievement reports with effective interventions and instructional strategies empowers teachers, parents, and special education professionals to support students effectively. We will delve into the process of selecting formal assessment batteries for assessing students in key academic areas, along with practical strategies for intervention and support.

Selecting Formal Assessment Batteries

Basic Reading Assessment:

Consider assessments that evaluate foundational reading skills, including phonological awareness, decoding, and sight word recognition.

• Wechsler Individual Achievement Test (WIAT-4)

• Woodcock-Johnson Tests of Achievement (WJ-IV)

• Kaufman Test of Educational Achievement (KTEA-3)

Reading Comprehension and Listening Comprehension:

Search for assessments that assess both literal and inferential comprehension skills across different text types and genres.

• Comprehensive Test of Phonological Processing (CTOPP-2)

• Gray Oral Reading Tests (GORT-5).

Dyslexia Assessment:

Select assessments that specifically target areas of difficulty associated with dyslexia, such as phonological awareness, rapid naming , and orthographic processing.

• Test of Word Reading Efficiency (TOWRE-2)

• Comprehensive Test of Phonological Processing (CTOPP-2)

• Gray Oral Reading Tests (GORT-5).

Reading Fluency Assessment:

Opt for assessments that measure both oral reading fluency and silent reading fluency across different text levels.

• Test of Word Reading Efficiency (TOWRE-2)

• Gray Oral Reading Tests (GORT-5)

Math Assessment:

Select assessments that evaluate both foundational math skills (calculation) and higher-order problem-solving abilities.

• Wechsler Individual Achievement Test (WIAT-4)

• Woodcock-Johnson Tests of Achievement (WJ-IV)

Written Expression Assessment:

Search for assessments that assess various components of writing, including spelling, grammar, sentence composition, and essay writing.

• Wechsler Individual Achievement Test (WIAT-4)

• Woodcock-Johnson Tests of Achievement (WJ-IV)

• Test of Written Language (TOWL-4).

Oral Language Assessment:

Choose assessments that evaluate expressive and receptive language skills, including vocabulary, syntax, and oral expression.

• Clinical Evaluation of Language Fundamentals (CELF-5)