Is your fourth grader at risk for failing the STAAR Writing Test? Does your middle school student continue to get poor grades on writing prompts? Does your high school student struggle to organize her ideas into good written narratives? Do you need help addressing your student’s needs?
A student’s ability to express herself in writing is a multifaceted process that involves multiple skills and abilities. Not only does she have to use handwriting (or typing) skills, she must also use appropriate words, spelling, punctuation, and grammar, as well as, organize her thoughts into sentences, paragraphs, and narratives that make sense to the reader. Given the multiple underlying cognitive, developmental, and academic skills involved in written expression, it’s a wonder that any of us can do it well.
Assessment of Written Language Must Be Multifaceted
If your student is struggling, it is important to determine exactly where the breakdown is occurring. Dr. Davenport has years of experience helping identify and address students’ specific written language needs. His assessment of your child’s writing is multifaceted in order to identify individual strengths and weaknesses among all aspects of getting thoughts on paper. He carefully examines your student’s abilities in each following areas.
Verbal Thinking Abilities are assessed using parent and teacher questionnaires and subtests of the Woodcock-Johnson Tests of Cognitive Abilities. Using these tools, Dr. Davenport can make recommendations for improving these necessary verbal skills at home and at school. If significant spoken language concerns are present, Dr. Davenport will refer you to Speech-Language Pathologist Gail Lindley, CCC/SLP for a proper assessment of these skills.
Executive Functions including working memory, organization, planning, prioritizing, starting tasks, persistence, and self-monitoring are critical written expression. Utilizing time-tested questionnaires and a structured clinical interview, Dr. Davenport can help identify areas where your student needs help.
Handwriting Quality and Speed are measured utilizing time-tested standardized tests that compare your student’s skills to those of others his or her age. If weaknesses are present, Dr. Davenport will assess the underlying developmental skills important for handwriting.
Fine Motor Abilities are assessed when handwriting quality is a significant concern of parents and teachers and during testing. Utilizing research based test instruments, he can identify or rule-out any problems with visual-motor integration, visual perception, and fine motor coordination important to the development of handwriting.
The Contextual Conventions Of Writing – spelling, punctuation, grammar use, and sentence structure – are assessed using multiple subtests from the WJ Tests of Academic Achievement and the Test of Written Language.
Written Composition involves the ability to pull all the other parts together to write structured sentences, paragraphs, and narratives and are assessed through parent and educator questionnaires, as well as, research-based and time proven testing instruments.
Based on this thorough assessment of your child’s skills, Dr. Davenport will make specific recommendations for building on strengths and addressing needs while accommodating current weaknesses. He has the experience and compassion to help you help your struggling student.
Interested in a Thorough Assessment of Written Language?
Call 817.421.8780 to schedule an initial clinical interview to discuss your student’s needs.
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© 2010-2016, Monte W. Davenport, Ph.D.
