If someone suggested such an evaluation, it means that there is a need to look deeper into the way your child understands school related information. It does not mean that there is something newly wrong with your child, such as he just contracted a catching disease. A learning disability does not appear suddenly and out of nowhere; your child is the same child you loved to the mood and back yesterday. Though you might now have a scary sounding combination of words, “learning disability,” to worry about, your child stays the same; he is safe and not in any kind of immediate danger. The only reason I’ve started out this subsection with an attempt to put you at ease is because I often see frantic parents in my office who feel very upset and stressed out by a suggestion of the teacher that their child should get an evaluation for a learning disability (LD). An LD means that the child may have one or more areas in his academic functioning that are not up to par with the rest of his academic or cognitive functioning. You may have a smart child who is struggling with reading for no apparent reason, or a child who excels in other academic areas but avoids math at all possible costs.
Quite frequently, the school may offer psychological and academic evaluation that can be done on school premises. Sometimes, it is the most logical and cost-effective way to start out the process of learning about your child’s academic difficulties. However, occasionally the parents may feel wary of putting the child through the testing that is arranged by the school/board of education. Private testing, or an ‘independent psychological evaluation’ conducted by a highly qualified professional, frequently provides parents with more of a sense of control and understanding of the child and the academic situation surrounding the child. Not only do we provide such evaluations at TEMA, but we will also work closely with the teachers and attend the Child Study Team meeting. Child Study Team is a team of educators that is responsible for creating an individualized educational plan (IEP) for a child who exhibits academic or social difficulties. A psychologist from TEMA who tested your child will attend such meetings in order to advocate for the most appropriate services for your child.
Независимо от того, выберете ли вы одного из наших психологов для оценки своего ребенка или нет, мы хотели бы предложить вам краткий, но исчерпывающий список того, на что следует обратить внимание при выборе психолога, который будет проводить независимую психолого-педагогическую оценку вашего ребенка. В скобках будет приведена информация об одном из наших оценивающих психологов, чтобы помочь организовать поиск и сравнение с другими поставщиками аналогичных услуг.
A psychologist’s background and the amount of experience in performing such evaluations. Not all psychologists are created equal. Some PhD programs require a large number of testings performed during their training, and other programs are not testing-heavy at all. Some psychologists pursue additional training/work experience with testing, and some avoid it. Some psychologists perform two to three testing cases during any given year, and some do two to three full testing cases a month. There are psychologists who specialize in traumatic brain injury or stroke patients, and there are psychologists who deal exclusively with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder. All those questions should refine your search for the right person to engage with your child.{For comparison purposes, here is information on Dr. Volynsky, the director of our Center, who will either test your child or oversee your child’s testing. Dr. Volynsky started her career in testing back in Ukraine, specializing in developmentally challenged children and children on the autistic spectrum. In the United States, she looked for additional testing experience while completing her PhD program, which included a neuropsychological testing rotation at Bellevue Hospital. Currently, she has a contract with the New York Board of Education, under which she tests about 30-35 school-age children each year. The main focus of her evaluation is on learning disabilities, attention difficulties, executive functioning, and developmental delays in various areas.}
The quality of the report. Just like you will end up loving some books and hating others, the same will be true for the testing report, which is a very important end product of any psychological evaluation. The language of writing has to be easily understood by you and by the teachers. The promptness of the report writing will help you get the services for your child faster. The report also has to contain specific and useful recommendations for you and for the teachers on how to deal with your child’s problems; after all, you’ve paid good money for this testing! The report may or may not contain the diagnosis. No matter what, both scenarios have to be well-grounded.{Dr. Volynsky will produce a report within ten to fourteen days after the last testing session with your child. Beforehand, on your request, she may supply you with a sample report she had written in the past so that you can gauge the quality of it. She produces separate recommendations for the parents and for the teachers throughout the report, as well as in a separate section that can be taken to school, even if the parents don’t want to give the teachers the whole report.}
A psychologist-school connection, the IEP, and life after the evaluation. Some psychologists are eager to work with the school system, but some of them shy away from forging any kind of relationship with the school; who knows- maybe they have bad memories from their own middle school years and don’t want to go back. It is really important that a psychologist helps your family to navigate the school system after the evaluation is done. One of the very important milestones in this navigation is the creation of an Individualized Educational Plan (IEP) by the Child Study Team in school. The IEP should be done on the basis of thorough psycho-educational evaluation. This IEP should specify the type of the classroom environment that will be most beneficial for your child. It should have specific plan concerning academic or social skills, depending on the area your child struggles with. It also has to list measurable indicators of your child’s progress so that both, you and the teacher, can assess whether this particular Individualized Educational Plan is working. If it sounds complicated, that’s simply because it is. However, a good psychologist will be willing to help your family through this process. {If you do an evaluation through our Center, the feedback session is included in the price for the evaluation. During the feedback session, Dr. Volynsky will explain to you how to facilitate your child’s learning, what his or her learning style is, and what kind of home interventions might be helpful to your child. She will also help you map out what to do next about the school and/or other educational programs. One post-evaluation meeting with the school officials is also included in the price for the evaluation, not to mention numerous phone calls to the school psychologist, your child’s teacher, the school principal if necessary, the Child Study team, etc., etc… In other words, you will have an ally who will provide help, support, and referrals if needed}.
The Purpose of Educational Assessment: Facilitating Learning and Improving Educational Quality
Educational assessments serve as critical tools in evaluating and improving students’ academic achievement, academic skills, and overall educational outcomes. Through academic assessments, educators can evaluate students’ academic fluency, assess their progress in academic areas, and ensure that they are meeting educational standards. These assessments provide valuable insights that guide instruction, enhance academic skill development, and help address academic frustration by identifying areas where students need additional support.
By leveraging assessments like achievement tests, achievement assessments, and other forms of evaluation, educators can not only track the academic performance of students but also optimize educational planning to support all learners effectively.
Key Benefits of Educational Assessments:
Instruct According to Learning Aims: Academic assessments enable educators to tailor their instructional plans to specific learning objectives. This focused approach helps teachers align their methods with the academic subjects’ students are studying, fostering academic achievement and skill development.
Provide Constructive Feedback: Through achievement testing and academic assessments, teachers can provide detailed, constructive feedback that enhances academic skills and helps students improve their performance. By focusing on students’ academic skills development, educators can encourage further growth.
Track Developmental Changes: Regular academic assessments help monitor students’ progress, providing a clear record of their academic achievement over time. This ongoing evaluation ensures that students receive the necessary interventions to develop academic skills and overcome any academic challenges they may encounter.
Adjust Teaching Styles: Assessment results, including academic skill evaluations and cognitive tests, guide teachers in adjusting their teaching approaches to accommodate the diverse learning styles and abilities of students. This adaptability promotes academic fluency and ensures that every student has the opportunity to succeed.
Motivate and Engage Students: Results from achievement assessments can act as motivation for students to stay engaged with their studies. Understanding their progress through tests such as standardized assessments and achievement tests can help students remain focused on achieving their academic goals.
Measure Program Effectiveness: Assessing the effectiveness of educational programs through achievement and assessment tests helps determine which programs are successful and which need refinement. This comprehensive evaluation process supports the continuous improvement of academic curricula and educational methods.
Report Achievement: Academic assessments allow educators to report students’ progress to parents, instructors, and policymakers, fostering collaboration and transparency. This process ensures that educational outcomes are communicated clearly, helping all stakeholders support students in achieving their full academic potential.
Cultivate Growth Culture: By integrating academic assessments into the classroom, educators foster a culture of growth and improvement. This encourages both students and teachers to embrace a mindset focused on continuous learning and achievement.
Through these comprehensive assessments, educators can help students overcome academic frustration, enhance their academic skills, and foster overall academic success, ensuring that every student reaches their full potential.
Psychometric Testing in Recruitment: Why and How They Are Used
Psychometric tests have become essential tools in recruitment, particularly for assessing candidates’ academic skills, behavioral functioning, and cognitive abilities. These tests provide valuable insights into candidates’ intellectual capacity and behavioral traits, ensuring a fair and objective evaluation process. Psychometric testing eliminates the biases often present in traditional interviews, offering a standardized method for assessing candidates’ qualifications.
These tests are particularly valuable for evaluating adolescents and students transitioning into the workforce, offering insight into their educational achievement, cognitive tests performance, and behavioral tendencies. By using psychometric tests such as intelligence testing, IQ tests, and behavioral rating scales, employers can assess a wide range of skills and traits, from academic skills to problem-solving abilities, helping them select the best candidates.
Developmental Psychology: Important for People’s Growth and Learning
Developmental psychology plays a critical role in understanding how individuals grow and develop over time, particularly in academic settings. Psychologists in this field study how academic skills develop at different stages of life and how students process information across academic subjects. Developmental psychology informs educational planning, helping educators design curricula that support the cognitive, social, and emotional growth of students, particularly adolescents.
By understanding the factors that influence academic achievement and skills development, developmental psychologists can assist in the creation of assessments that support learning at various stages of academic development. These assessments, such as psychoeducational evaluations and achievement testing, help identify students’ strengths and areas that require further academic skill development.
How Developmental Psychology Is Practiced in Society
Developmental psychologists, including school psychologists and certified school psychologists, apply their expertise in both educational and clinical settings. In schools, they conduct comprehensive assessments and evaluations, such as adaptive behavior assessments, to understand students’ educational functioning and address behavioral problems. These professionals also work with mental health professionals to provide psychoeducation and support for students with psychiatric conditions that impact their academic performance.
Overall, developmental psychology improves educational outcomes by supporting academic skills development, guiding educational planning, and fostering the growth of students throughout their educational journey. Whether through cognitive tests, behavioral assessments, or psychoeducational evaluations, developmental psychologists play a key role in enhancing academic achievement and ensuring that all students have the resources they need to succeed.
