Understanding Testing for Unique Learners: A Guide for Homeschool Parents
By Amy Vickrey, MSE, MEd
When it comes to testing for your child, there are many factors to consider—different types of tests, various purposes, and how the information can be used. Tests can provide valuable insight into your child's strengths and weaknesses, especially when writing an Individualized Education Plan (IEP).
Types of Tests
Nationally Normed Tests
Many states require parents to demonstrate student progress through nationally normed tests like the IOWA, CAT, or MAP. These tests compare your student’s progress with peers of the same age or grade, typically based on standardized benchmarks such as the Common Core. It’s important to remember, though, that these tests might not reflect everything your child has learned, particularly if your curriculum does not align with the test’s standards.
Psycho-Educational Assessments
For diagnosing learning disabilities, a psycho-educational assessment is often used, including Cognitive Testing and Achievement Testing. Sometimes Executive Functioning and Behavioral Assessments are added based on parental concerns.
Cognitive Testing
Common cognitive tests include the WISC-V, KABC-II, and WJ-IV-COG. These tests examine how a learner processes information. Key areas assessed are:
Comprehensive Knowledge (Crystallized Intelligence - Gc): Involves an individual's depth of knowledge, including verbal communication and reasoning. It’s built from both formal and informal educational experiences.
Long-Term Memory/Retrieval (Glr): Measures the ability to store and retrieve information, like recalling facts or names. Skills related to Glr include test performance and word retrieval.
Visual Processing (Gv): Assesses the ability to analyze, store, and manipulate visual information, impacting skills like reading maps, geometry, and assembling puzzles.
Auditory Processing (Ga): Involves the ability to analyze sound patterns. It is closely linked to phonetic skills and math fact recall.
Fluid Reasoning (Gf): Tests problem-solving abilities with new tasks or unfamiliar situations, essential for drawing inferences and solving abstract problems.
Processing Speed (Gs): Measures how quickly visual information is processed and how rapidly a student can learn new tasks, affecting reading, writing, and math fluency.
Short-Term Memory (Working Memory - Gsm/Gswm): Assesses the ability to hold information briefly and use it immediately, impacting skills like reading comprehension and following oral directions.
Interpreting Cognitive Test Results
When reviewing cognitive test results, consider the following:
What do you already know about your child’s strengths and challenges?
Could specific challenges (e.g., writing struggles) have impacted test performance?
Are there significant discrepancies between areas?
Remember that these tests represent a snapshot of your child’s performance on a single day.
While children may accidentally perform poorly, they don't accidentally perform well. Focus on their strengths and align any weaknesses with your own observations.
Achievement Testing
Achievement tests are used to compare your child's academic performance to that of peers. They may be administered by a dyslexia therapist or as part of a broader assessment. Common tests include the WIAT-4, KTEA-3, and WJ-IV-ACH.
Mathematics
This typically covers Math Calculation (often paper and pencil) and Math Problem Solving (usually verbal). Consider your child’s challenges with writing or verbal directions when interpreting these results.
Reading
Reading assessments may evaluate areas like comprehension, fluency, word recognition, and phonemic awareness. Listening comprehension may also be tested for younger readers or for children who struggle with decoding text.
Writing/Spelling
Writing and spelling are assessed at the letter, word, sentence, and paragraph levels. Fine motor skills may also be tested to determine how well a child can physically execute writing tasks.
Executive Functioning
These are the foundational skills for learning, including working memory, emotional control, sustained attention, task initiation, and time management.
Behavioral Assessments
Behavioral assessments focus on anxiety, depression, autism, attention, and hyperactivity. These assessments help determine whether behaviors are affecting learning or are a response to learning challenges.
Understanding Standardized Test Scores
Most tests use standardized scores where 85-115 is considered average. Scores above 115 indicate above-average abilities, while scores below 85 may point to areas of concern.
However, keep in mind that these scores reflect just one moment in time. Intelligence and abilities are fluid and can vary. Trust your instincts as a parent—you know your child’s true potential better than anyone.
Amy Vickrey is the Training Manager at SPED Homeschool.
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