opinions of woodcock johnson test

Yes, it is one of the tests commonly used to identify learning disability. Most assessors give the Woodcock-J. to assess academic performance and skills. It tells you how your child compares to age and grade mates in reading (word identification, word attack skills, and comprehension), math computation and reasoning, background knowledge, and written language (spelling). They would also administer the WISC, a test of cognitive ability (IQ) to establish that there is a significant gap between cognitive ability (averge or above in an LD child) and academic performance. Assessing academic skills alone may suggest the possibility of learning disabilities (for ex. if there were a wide gap between your child’s background knowledge and his reading scores) but an IQ test is needed to determine learning disabilities. The Woodcock-J. also has a battery of cognitive tests, and it may be that the assessor is going to give both the cognitive and academic W-J tests (The WISC is the standard test given; the W-J Cognitive is sometimes used, though, when the child’s performance is hurt by slow processing speed). I know there are websites that give info. on the tests and the testing process, including LD Online. Others may be able to post specifics. I think you are right—a full assessment should have been done earlier. It sure sounds like your son is LD. Sometimes bright LD kids are not picked up as early as they could be because they seem so bright. When the writing demands at school increase, that’s when their difficulties are highlighted. It’s good they’re doing the assessment now, though. I’ve tested & identified LD kids at the high school level—by then it is sometimes too late to do much because they are so turned off school and resistant to help. If your son was in preschool 4 years ago he is still young and much can be done. Good luck!

Thank you yes I talked to the school psy today when i picked him up.He said definatly my son is LD but gifted too.He said his IQ is above 140.he did theses tests last week.He did the Woodcock Johnson both academic and cognitive.He said my is near average for his age but drastically less than his ability.My son is below in reading,spelling and writing.we will have a IEP meeting when school starts back up in Jan.i do know he will go to a resource room spelling,writing,grammer and phonics.When he goes back to school.He will go for 2 hours daily but with a higher grade 4th not 3rd which he is in.This class the students I was explained were more on his level than the 3rd graders in resource room.he will have a scriptor for the state profiency tests too and a reader also and no timed tests.

Raelyn,

Find out exactly what they use for remediation in that resource program. I would be very doubtful that they would be prepared to meet the needs of a very gifted child with LD’s. If I were you, I’d be sure to get some outside expert advice before signing an IEP. As a matter of fact, I’d recommend an outside evaluation. There are effective techniques, but not all schools use them! Your son is probably very different than the other children with whom they are grouping him. I think it is awful they have waited until he is 9 1/2 to identify him, which doesn’t give me a lot of confidence in their program.

Janis

He will be doing some type of phonics one on one with the teacher while the 4th graders are at specials and the writing is what i have been told by the teacher really based on the childs own abilities.He will be getting OT also to work on motor skills and his handwriting.He will be doing a lot of work verbally.So far he has had teachers that did this already because our old principal and school psy did not like to test till 4th or 5th grades.His teacher last year was so great and worked alot of one on one his class was small only 14 students and 3 were DH and left for the majority of the day.He will be with other LD students and their is only 3 others and they are a grade ahead of him he wont be with the 3 rd graders this was what the school psy told me the teacher he will have for 2 hours has had students like him in the past gifted and LD.She called me today to talk about what she plans to do with him and we are on Christmas break.I think the phonic program is something ortho something like that.She did tell me some of his scores on math the reasoning part was 99 % but calculation was 10 % .reading decoding was 9% but passage comphrension was 45%. She told me his writing is very big and his spacing is awful,along with many reversals.His spelling is very bad so she is going to use different techniques like more hands on ways to each him ex. sand, sandpaper letters, different types of writing (pencil,crayon,marker, chalk).She sounded great at least it is a start.There is no place close to get him tested or to go for tutoring or private placement we live in a rural area.

Raelyn,

That does sound encouraging. I certainly hope all goes well!

Janis

I do not want to discourage you but, after having my son who had a significant speech delay (2 yrs.) in sped class from k to now 4th grade I am less than thrilled. His speech with speech 2x a week has improved dramatically, math is good but, that is his strength. His reading was still over 2 yrs. behind. I hired a tutor privately 2x a week and in 4 months the improvement is awesome.

If you can get outside reading help do it a.s.a.p. My son wasn’t relating to phonics alone. The tutor does some phonics, but also prefix, suffex, word games, works intensly on comprehesion. Schools tend to get a program and expect it to be one size fits all.

thank you we are working with him on Reading reflux and looking into other things too.My sons strengh is Math too he taught himself the times tables in 1st grade and they still havent done them in school.His real problem is decoding no trouble comphrending as long as he can read it.

Developing this habit can keep his listening skills on track, and keep those reading skills from holding back his learning.

This is what his speech therapist has said to insist on the school to get them for him ask before they even suggest it and to keep after them.They dont always tell you your options.They have said they are going to teach him keyboarding after this break.

Hi Raelyn,

She sounds like a very motivated teacher, that’s good to know! If she is open to it, you might suggest that she look into the Handwriting Without Tears program, it was designed by an OT and works real well with LD kids like your son who have motor issues, because there is a lot of practice on a “slate” or chalkboard before doing any pencil/paper work. It is available online also at www.hwtears.com and is very reasonably priced — also has been adopted by many state curriculum departments, which means she would be able to use district money to purchase it.

Is the reading program she mentioned Orton-Gillingham? If so, that’s a good start if you have someone trained in that, it’s one of the those shown to work best for kids with auditory processing issues, as your son almost surely has. One-to-one is also the best setting for him, especially since they delayed so long in getting him identified — you may want to suggest they reevaluate that policy of waiting to test, in light of recent research (see my website at www.angelfire.com/on2/thepuzzle for more info on this!)… Anyway, it sounds like you’re off to a good start, hope it goes well!

Sharon