Foundations of Assessment in Early Childhood Special Education

Description

·         Field-based case studies present real-life scenarios which discuss a variety of disabilities at the beginning of each chapter and include questions that are answered at the end of the chapter to help readers see the ideas in real-life contexts.

 

·         Current research and standards in the field ground each chapter’s content.

 

·         Current legal changes, as well as the latest revisions of formal and informal assessments keep readers up to date on the topics critical to the field.

 

·         Different types of assessment tools are discussed to help educators with ongoing assessment and the decision-making process.

 

·         Early childhood special education standards are included at the beginning of each chapter to ground the chapter content in standards from the field.

 

·         Web links related to the chapter content appear at the end of each chapter to provide additional resources for readers in order to better understand the ideas presented.

 

·         Key terms at the end of each chapter help readers focus on important ideas in the chapter as they read and learn the material.

 

·         Breakpoint practice sections following each section in every chapter help readers check their understanding of major ideas.

 

·         Activities at the end of each chapter help readers further check their understanding of the chapter content.

 

·         Tables of relevant assessments used for the content area are dispersed throughout chapters to give readers access to the assessments discussed, including critical measurement information.

Foundations of Assessment in Early Childhood Special Education gives pre-service and in-service early childhood and special education teachers the tools they need to best meet the needs of all children in their classrooms. Using a clear, accessible approach, the authors present the ideas in a way that is applicable both at home and in the classroom. A variety of formal and informal assessments are described, along with a number of practical skills for working effectively with all children. Real-life case studies help to explain the main ideas of each chapter, and a variety of web links plus current research help readers further explore the topics presented.

This text provides pre-service and in-service early childhood and special education teachers with clear, accessible formal and informal assessment information plus practical skills and techniques for improving services for children in home and classroom settings.

In Foundations of Assessment in Early Childhood Special Education,” pre-service and in-service early childhood and special education teachers get the formal and informal assessment information and the practical skills they need to better serve young children with exceptional learning needs and/or at risk of developmental delay. The information provided is applicable to both home and classroom settings and includes real life case studies which discuss a variety of disabilities to help readers acquire the necessary decision-making assessment skills.

This text emphasizes assessment spiral and highlights collaboration to help teachers work optimally with other professionals and family members to achieve goals. Included are break point practices, activities, web resources, and a sound research base to help readers explore assessment at a higher level of analysis.

Highlights of this Edition:

· Field-based case studies present real-life scenarios over a variety of disabilities.

· Current research and standards in the field ground each chapter’s content.

· Current legal changes, as well as the latest revisions of formal and informal assessments keep readers up to date on the topics critical to the field.

· Different types of assessment tools are discussed to help educators with ongoing assessment and the decision-making process.

· Early childhood special education standards are included at the beginning of each chapter to ground the chapter content in standards from the field.

· A variety of learning aids help to make the concepts clear: web links, key terms, breakpoint practice sections, activities, tables of relevant assessments, and more.

Dr. Effie Papoutsis Kritikos is a professor in the Department of Special Education at Northeastern Illinois University, where she has taught for ten years. She is multi-certified in various areas of special education, including speech-language pathology. Dr. Kritikos has written, reviewed and presented numerous papers for a multitude of organizations and is the author of the textbook, Special Education Assessment: Issues and Strategies Affecting Today’s Classrooms.

Dr. Phyllis LeDosquet is an associate professor in early childhood special education in the Department of Special Education at Northeastern Illinois University where she has coordinated and taught courses in the early childhood special education program for seven years. She has over 20 years experience in the assessment of infants, toddlers, and young children with exceptional learning needs and has provided support to children, families and educators in both home and school environments.

Dr. Mark Melton, LCSW, is an associate professor in the Department of Special Education at Northeastern Illinois University, where he has taught for five years. Dr. Melton has experience as a classroom teacher, school administrator, and clinical supervisor in various special education settings. In addition to his teaching responsibilities, Dr. Melton maintains a private practice in clinical social work supporting children with behavioral and regulatory challenges and their families.

Assessing the Needs of Young Children in Early Childhood Special Education:

A Focus on Best Practices for Effective Intervention and Development

Part I Foundations of Assessment in Early Childhood Special Education

Chapter One: Introduction to Children with Special Needs

History of Early Childhood Special Education

History of Assessment

Overview of Text

Part I: Foundations of Assessment in ECSE

Part II: Assessment Approaches and Considerations

Part III: Developmental Domains

Using the Text

Conclusion

Chapter Two: Legal Issues

Chapter Objectives

Assessing Huan

History of Legislation

The Public Law (P.L. 94-142)

Breakpoint Practice

The Individual with Disabilities Education Act

Structure of the IDEA

Part B Services

Part C Services

Breakpoint Practice

Key Provisions of Part C Services

Interagency Coordinating Councils

Assessment and Eligibility

Natural Environments

Individualized Family Service Plan

Breakpoint Practice

No Child Left Behind and IDEIA

Early Childhood Special Education Assessment and Legal Trends

Breakpoint Practice

Revisiting Huan

Activities

Websites

Key Terms

References

Chapter Three: Family Diversity and Assessment

Chapter Objectives

Assessing Sarah

Diversity in America Today

Family Systems Theory

Boundaries

Roles

Rules

Hierarchy

Equilibrium

Breakpoint Practice

Culture Defined

Race and Ethnicity

Gender

Religion

Age

Geography

Income

Language

Contextualizing Culture

Breakpoint Practice

Family Centered Service Delivery

Breakpoint Practice

Knowledge for Developing Cultural Competencies

Breakpoint Practice

Skills for Developing Cultural Competency

Breakpoint Practice

Steps for Self-Reflection

Breakpoint Practice

Revisiting Sarah

Activities

Websites

Key Terms

References

Chapter Four: Collaboration

Chapter Objectives

Assessing Michelle

Collaboration

Breakpoint Practice

Team Process

Collaboration Models

Multidisciplinary Approach

Interdisciplinary Approach

Transdisciplinary Approach

Breakpoint Practice

Best Collaboration Practice

Breakpoint Practice

Fostering Collaborative Assessment Relationships

Breakpoint Practice

Effective Communication

Breakpoint Practice

Revisiting Michelle

Activities

Websites

Key Terms

References

Part II Assessment Approaches and Considerations

Chapter Five: Technical Aspects of Assessment

Chapter Objectives

Assessing Judy

Norm-Reverenced, Standardized Testing

Application to the Classroom

Reliability

Breakpoint Practice

Reliability Types

Breakpoint Practice

Validity

Validity Types

Breakpoint Practice

Curriculum-Based Measurement and Validity and Reliability

Curriculum-Based Assessment

Breakpoint Practice

Norms and Testing

Breakpoint Practice

Breakpoint Practice

Breakpoint Practice

Breakpoint Practice

Breakpoint Practice

Revisiting Judy

Activities

Websites

Key Terms

References

Chapter Six: Assessment Models

Chapter Objectives

Assessing Anna

Alternative Assessment Models

Breakpoint Practice

Performance-Based Assessment

Authentic Assessment

Judgment-Based Assessment

Portfolio Assessment

Breakpoint Practice

Play-Based Assessment

Dynamic Assessment

Revisiting Anna

Activities

Websites

Key Terms

References

Chapter Seven: Environmental Analysis

Chapter Objectives

Assessing Carlos

Early Childhood Environments

Environmental Analysis

Breakpoint Practice

Environmental Rating Scales

Breakpoint Practice

Functional Behavioral Assessment

Breakpoint Practice

Supporting Assessment Tools

Breakpoint Practice

Environmental Analysis and Curriculum

Special Needs and the Learning Environment

Health and Safety

Families as Partners

Natural Environments

Relationships

Inclusion

Grouping

Scaffolding and Mediation

Embedded Instruction

Positive Behavioral Supports

Breakpoint Practice

Reassessing Carlos

Activities

Websites

Key Terms

References

Chapter Eight: Observational Assessment

Chapter Objectives

Assessing Athena

Definitions

Rubrics

Breakpoint Practice

Observations

Breakpoint Practice

ABC Procedure

Observational Recording System

Recording Techniques

Breakpoint Practice

Checklists and Rating Scales

Checklists and Rating Scales for Autism

Checklists and Rating Scales for Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder

Checklists and Rating Scales for Atypical Behavior

Checklists and Rating Scales for Environmental Assessments

Breakpoint Practice

Revisiting Athena

Activities

Websites

Key Terms

References

Part III Developmental Domains

Chapter Nine: Sensory Assessment

Chapter Objectives

Assessing Louie

Vision Assessment

Visual Process

Vision Disorders

Breakpoint Practice

Visual Concerns

Functional Vision Assessment

Breakpoint Practice

Assessment of Visual Motor Skills

Breakpoint Practice

Final Considerations

Hearing Assessment

Physiology of Hearing

Hearing Testing

Types of Hearing Loss

Etiology

Severity

Modes of Communication

Breakpoint Practice

Central Auditory Hearing Loss

Breakpoint Practice

Auditory Processing Tests

Breakpoint Practice

Assistive Technologies

Models of Assistive Technology

Assistive Technology Areas

Breakpoint Practice

Other Considerations

Breakpoint Practice

Sorting it Out

Breakpoint Practice

Failures in Self-Regulation

Breakpoint Practice

Revisiting Louie

Activities

Websites

Key Terms

References

Chapter Ten: Cognitive and Social-Emotional Assessment

Chapter Objectives

Assessing Joey

Cognition and Social-Emotional Development

Major Theories

Piaget

Breakpoint Practice

Vygotsky

Breakpoint Practice

Multiple Intelligences

Social-Emotional Intelligence

Breakpoint Practice

Assessment of Cognition

Standardized (Norm-Referenced) Assessments

Criterion and Curriculum-Referenced Assessments

Breakpoint Practice

Assessment of Social-Emotional Development

Assessment Tools for Social-Emotional Development

Breakpoint Practice

Assessment Considerations

Breakpoint Practice

Revisiting Joey

Activities

Websites

Key Terms

References

Chapter Eleven: Communication

Chapter Objectives

Assessing Anita

Definitions of Receptive and Expressive Language

Form, Content and Use

Breakpoint Practice

Assessing Language

Screening

Screening Tools

Breakpoint Practice

Comprehensive Assessment

Comprehensive Standardized Assessment Tools

Global Testing

General Language Tests

Receptive Vocabulary

Expressive Vocabulary

Auditory Comprehension and Discrimination

Pragmatic Language

Breakpoint Practice

Criterion and Curriculum Referenced Assessment

Breakpoint Practice

Informal Measures

Language Samples

Dynamic Assessment

Breakpoint Practice

Revisiting Anita

Activities

Key Terms

Websites

References

Chapter Twelve: Motor Development and Adaptive Skills

Chapter Objectives

Assessing Marcus

Motor Development

Gross Motor Development

Reflex Assessment

Breakpoint Practice

Muscle Tone

Breakpoint Practice

Gross Motor Milestones

Fine Motor Development

Breakpoint Practice

Self-help/Adaptive Development

Feeding

Development of Feeding Skills

Breakpoint Practice

Dressing

Grooming

Toileting

Breakpoint Practice

Self-Help Skill Assessments

Revisiting Marcus

Websites

Key Terms

References

NAME INDEX

SUBJECT INDEX

This text provides pre-service and in-service early childhood and special education teachers with clear, accessible formal and informal assessment information plus practical skills and techniques for improving services for children in home and classroom settings.

 

In Foundations of Assessment in Early Childhood Special Education,” pre-service and in-service early childhood and special education teachers get the formal and informal assessment information and the practical skills they need to better serve young children with exceptional learning needs and/or at risk of developmental delay. The information provided is applicable to both home and classroom settings and includes real life case studies which discuss a variety of disabilities to help readers acquire the necessary decision-making assessment skills.

 

This text emphasizes assessment spiral and highlights collaboration to help teachers work optimally with other professionals and family members to achieve goals. Included are break point practices, activities, web resources, and a sound research base to help readers explore assessment at a higher level of analysis.