Assessment of Young Children with Special Needs: A Context-Based Approach

There are many assessment systems available to provide the answers teachers and parents seek regarding the progression of infants, toddlers, and young children. However, simply choosing and administering an assessment instrument or procedure from the wide array of tools available today can be an overwhelming task. Assessment of Young Children with Special Needs helps prepare teachers for the task of evaluating the skills of infants, toddlers, and preschool children with developmental delays and those considered at risk to experience developmental delays or difficulties. A child's environment is a critical consideration when focusing on assessment, and authors Susan Benner and Joan Grim explore the important issues of family resources, health issues, and domestic violence. Assessment of Young Children with Special Needs conveys a sense of respect for parents, the powerful influence assessment results can and do have in the lives of young children with special needs, and an understanding of the complexity of child development, progression, and measurement. This book sets the tone for important values and beliefs to honor throughout one's professional life. This fully revised edition addresses recent legislation, updated versions of assessment tools and strategies, and the newest assessment tools that teachers will come across. The popular full-length case studies of the first edition have been updated, and vignettes of other cases are fully integrated across chapters, bringing the text alive with meaning. Assessment of Young Children with Special Needs, Second Edition now includes expanded discussion on progress monitoring and response to intervention, functional behavioral analysis, pros and cons of norm-referenced testing, web-based gathering tools, ELL students, and screening for autism. Key Features Include: Updated list of web-based further resources Beginning of chapter overview with "Objectives" and "Key Terms and Concepts" "For Your Consideration" end of chapter questions Actual scoring charts and rating scales Expanded case studies and vignettes throughout Website with instructional materials such as links to video clips, PowerPoint slides, and suggested activities and discussion questions

Table of Contents:
1 Assessment in Context: Principles for Practice 2 Purposes of Assessment 3 Developing a Framework for context-based assessments 4 Assessment through Collaboration with Families 5 Approaches and Techniques Used in Child Assessment 6 Norm-Referenced Standardized Assessment 7 Criterion-Referenced and Play-Based Assessment 8 Assessing Individual Progress through Portfolio and Work Sampling Assessments, Goal Attainment Scaling, and General Outcome Measurement 9 Functional Behavioral Assessment 10 Assessment Environments 11 Context-Based Assessment cases: Infants and Toddlers 12 Context-Based Assessment Cases: Preschool and Primary-Grade Children

About the Author :
Susan Benner is Professor and Department Head of Early Childhood Special Education at University of Tennessee, Knoxville.