Dynamic Assessment: Use with Confidence

 

What is Dynamic Assessment for Culturally and Linguistically Diverse Children?

The Dynamic Assessment process is a series of steps to determine “learning ability”.  It is similar to the Response to Intervention model.   It allows for observation over time, variability in performance, and memory of instructional concepts.  It considers the possibility of a language difference not just language disorder.  Additionally, dynamic assessment reports language potential rather than a static language score.  With increasing mobility and diversity in our communities, dynamic assessment of children with culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds is critical for ethical assessment.  This is especially important when considering a speech and language eligibility determination. 

 

When to Use Dynamic Assessment?

If you are a speech-language pathologist, more than likely you have had many encounters with various educators approaching you with language concerns regarding a specific student.  After gathering information, you might have one of the following scenarios:

 

1. 1. the student is a second language learner who has been in the United States for the past 2 years but continues to demonstrate educational difficulties
   2. student is an English speaking child with ongoing educational deficits
   3. the student has been in the US educational system for 4-5 years, comes from a multi-lingual family, engages typically in everyday conversations but has had ongoing educational deficits.
   4. the student recently migrated from a non-English speaking country and is demonstrating difficulties in the classroom

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The first 3 scenarios are perfect opportunities to use Dynamic Assessment as it is appropriate for monolingual and multilingual speakers.  The last scenario would be more appropriate for an English Language Learner program as an initial step in language support.

 

 

Why Use Dynamic Assessment?

If you have been a speech-language pathologist for any amount of time, you understand how standardized language measures often provide biased results.  They may be inappropriate for a diverse student population and lack consideration for cultural and linguistic characteristics.  Thus, Dynamic Assessment is critical in the ethical assessment of so many children in our communities. 

Dynamic Assessment provides information about a child’s potential, educational needs, and informs instructional practices.  Most importantly, it helps to accurately determine whether eligibility and support services are appropriate in the educational setting.  

 

For Dynamic Assessment Considerations and Planning

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