Tanya Starting a new year can be hectic, and even more so if it is your first year teaching resource. I’ve compiled a back-to-school to do list for resource teachers or any teacher wanting to build diagnostic portfolio for their children.
Set Up a Filing System
To keep everything organized from the get go, I create a drawer filing system with a file folder for each child. Any assessments, diagnostic testing, evaluations or writing samples are kept there for fast access. It’s so quick to pull out the child’s file folder for a last minute meeting. In this folder, I keep the following:
- Student snapshot – I fill this out this freebie at the beginning of the year and keep it at the front of my file for that student.
- IEP
- IEP snapshot – great for quick photocopying and sharing with others if need be.
- Reading assessments – I use DIBELS and RAZ Kids assessments
- Phonics and number assessments to help target reading difficulties – Quick assessments
- The ‘recommendations’ page from any professional’s report (psych, speech, OT etc) that could help with implementing adaptations and modifications.
- Resource progress reports – these are filled out every term to give an overview of the child’s progress over that period.
- Diagnostic writing samples given at the beginning of the year – this is important to have in order to measure progress throughout the year.
- Any other important documents that pertain to helping the child learn.
Prepare Your Assessments
Make copies and familiarize yourself with the assessment tools your school uses.
READING: I always start by assessing letter sounds, if you need an assessment, find a freebie here. I love to use DIBELS because I can really pinpoint which part of reading the child needs to work on – phonemic awareness, phonics, fluency or comprehension. To prep for this, I print assessments for each grade, and keep them in a binder. I make several copies of each, so I can administer to the children. I also like to use these phonics assessments with parent communication letters to help inform the parents of the students weakness.
I also use RAZ Kids assessment tools as a quick assessment – to prep for this, I print one benchmark story from each level and many running records to quickly pull out when testing a child. I store everything in a binder and pull out the binder, along with a timer, come testing time. Short of going digital, this is the quickest and most efficient way I have discovered (and I have administered 100’s of tests). If you want to know more about phonics assessments, click here.
MATH: For my younger students, I administer a number assessment. Check with your school to learn about their math diagnostic tools! My school offers one which they provide, so I make copies and have that one handy.
FRENCH – I use the GB+ assessment program.
Prepare the Take Home Resource Books
The more practice, the better! I send home duotangs with easy home practice and tips for doing homework with children, for the parents. Get them here. I also add a take-home sight word packet to reinforce sight word recognition.
