Alexa DAuria

EDUG 787 Final Growth Statement

12/4/14
Bernstein

The Psychoeducational Assessment course was the most beneficial class I have
taken this semester. Professor Bernstein is extremely outgoing and relatable. I loved that
she gave us the opportunity to share our teaching experiences. It was just one of the many
ways we learned from one another. This class was very organized and we always focused
on detail. The textbook gave further explanations to class discussions and helped me
review for the midterm. After the midterm, the only time I read the textbook was to help
me write my WIAT-III report.
We first did a quick review of important laws. This seemed redundant, but our
professor put it in simplified terms. I believe that this helped me to understand and
remember the laws more clearly. It also taught me how to deal with parents in legal
situations.
Learning the two types of assessments prepared me the most for becoming a
teacher. Not only does this topic appear on the Students with Disabilities CST, but it will
also help me select the best method of assessment depending on each students needs. We
were fortunate enough to dissect four different norm-based assessments that we may use
in our classrooms. One of the tests was the WIAT-III, which I actually administered on a
child that I babysit. Although the school psychologist is most likely going to be the one to
administer this test, it is important for teachers to know how to interpret test results in
order to differentiate instruction and implement intervention strategies based on each
students needs. I also learned that test factors, including the environment, and even

psychological factors, greatly affect the students test results. My log entries allowed me
to reflect on my experiences and helped me to learn from my mistakes.
Furthermore, I learned about the observation process and what type of data
recording to use, depending on the students behavior. I also learned more thoroughly
about the three tiers in the Response to Intervention (RTI) process. As a special education
teacher, it is important to know the different teams involved in your school and
implement this pre-referral process. Finally, analyzing the ELA score report enabled me
to recognize areas based on the standards that each student struggled in. I learned that if
more than half the class scored low on a specific standard/question, I can implement
whole class instruction. If only a few students struggled, then I can teach a small group
targeted instruction.
Overall, this semester I learned the most information in this class. I believe that I
will carry on this new knowledge into my future classroom and instruction.