Does Anyone Know...

They do not differ at all- they are all the same test (same publisher/developer) in different editions. There are some differences in the stimulus items but not many.

All three tests assess the ability to decode unfamiliar words using common patterns found in real words. They use nonsense words as a way to separate the use of vocabulary skills from strict decoding. Kids with very strong vocabulary skills and relatively weak decoding may do quite well on Letter Word Identification so their decoding weaknesses aren’t evident there, but they show up on the Word Attack Test. It can work the other way also- kids can have really strong word attack skills and still be weak on the application of those skills to real words. Doing both gives you better diagnostic information.

Robin

Correct in thinking that a kid with grade level letter -word ID scores (due to a very strong vocabulary) but word attack scores 3 years behind would need reading instruction? If so, what programs would address this?

I might be inclined to think that:)- though some people might- and do- argue differently. (After all- he is reading at grade level- yes?)

In general, multisensory structured phonics is what you are looking for. Orton Gillingham is my preference but there are others, such as Phonographix. I like OG because it is procedures rather than a program, so you can tailor the vocabulary to chalenge the child.Hewever, you do need to be trained to do it well. There are also several OG based programs such as Wilson Reading that are very good. Again- the instructor needs to be trained so that they teach the skills instead of running the program but it has been shown to be quite effective.

Robin

some may and do argue the reading is at grade level ;) comfort and confidence is way below.
How can one be assured whoever is providing the reading program is fully trained? Where do I find out how much training is required?

There are different levels of training- anything from workshop to graduate school… but in general, a certified instructor has completed three to six credits worth of coursework and a 3 credit supervised practicum to be a certified OG instructor. I may have the numbers wrong but I know that my training was nine + credits- I checked:) There are several levels to the training- but you want to find someone who has done the supervised practicum (practice teaching) if possible. It is a bit different for OG oriented programs such as Wilson.That training is a bit shorter.

I would ask what level of training a potential tutor has. And I would also ask for references and then check them. I would expect someone to do that for me if I were going to tutor privately. And I would include my child somewhere through the selection process. A tutor with a lot of training who doesn’t have a “teacher heart” isn’t going to be particularly effective- by the same token, a tutor with less training may be very effective just because they are intuitive, know enough, and they care. Good luck!

Robin