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Diagnostic and Prescriptive Assessment Strategies
for the General and Special Education Teacher
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Cathleen G. Spinelli
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Abstract
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| With the increasing number of students with diverse academic and social-emotional difficulties included in regular education classes, teachers must be able to assess individual needs in order to implement effective remedial strategies. This article explains and provides examples of diagnostic-prescriptive approaches that may not be a part of practicing teachers' repertoire of skills. With IDEA-97 mandating that progress be reported to parents on a regular basis, special and general education teachers must be knowledgeable and resourceful in monitoring and maintaining information on student progress and be able to assess individual needs and programs. The functional assessment techniques presented demonstrate ways for teachers to ascertain students' academic strengths and weaknesses through authentic-performance measures, such as curriculum-based assessment, portfolio assessment, and rubric scoring methods. |