As a professional deeply involved in conducting evaluations, I have come to appreciate the critical role of both standard and informal testing. Standardized tests are essential for obtaining insurance approval and meeting Board of Education requirements. These tests provide quantifiable data that can be compared across populations, ensuring that evaluations are objective and meet regulatory standards. However, in my experience, relying solely on these standard tests often falls short when it comes to truly understanding the unique needs and capabilities of each child.
Incorporating informal tests into my evaluation process has proven invaluable. I often begin with an informal test as a warm-up to get to know the child better. This approach not only helps in building rapport but also provides immediate insights into the child's abilities in a relaxed setting. Recording the results of these informal assessments gives me a foundation upon which I can build more specific goals and thoroughly analyze the areas where the child may have functional deficits.
One of my favorite tools for these informal evaluations is "Picture This." This resource is particularly effective when working with young children due to its rich and engaging content that spans a variety of areas. The appealing pictures in "Picture This" naturally draw children into conversations, allowing me to assess several aspects of their communication skills. Through these interactions, I gain a deeper understanding of their vocabulary, inferencing abilities, sentence structure, and articulation.
Additionally, I use the detailed picture scenes in "Picture This" to informally test for the use of pronouns and verb usage. By prompting the child to describe the scenes, I can observe how they use pronouns correctly and identify which verbs they are familiar with and how they conjugate them. This method provides a wealth of information, revealing both strengths and areas needing improvement in the child's language skills. The insights gained from using "Picture This" are invaluable, as they inform my overall assessment and help me tailor interventions to meet each child's specific needs.
"Picture This" is also incredibly convenient to use. Its portability means I can easily bring it with me to different settings, ensuring that I have a reliable tool on hand for informal testing. This flexibility enhances my ability to provide thorough and dynamic evaluations, making it a win-win situation for both myself and the children I assess.
In conclusion, while standard testing is necessary for formal documentation and approval processes, integrating informal assessments like those I conduct with "Picture This" is crucial for a comprehensive evaluation. These informal tests offer a more nuanced view of a child's abilities, ultimately leading to more tailored and effective goal setting and intervention planning. By balancing both types of assessments, I can better meet the individual needs of each child, fostering their growth and development in the most supportive way possible.