Gifted Issues Discussion homepage Forums Identification, Testing & Assessment UPDATE: WJ achievement test Scores *i'm confused!*

ds 8 is taking the woodcock-johnson achievement test tomorrow morning. the pshycologist said she is going to give him many of the subtests. i don't know what that means really lol. Are there MANY extra subtests for that test? are they needed/helpful? he took the wisc-iv a few weeks ago and got 159 GAI. He is looking forward to testing tomorrow then doing something special in the afternoon I am still a little nervous for him because it will be a long test and i won't be there. i guess i am also a bit nervous because this is going to be the final piece in the puzzle that will set our plans in motion (regardless of how he scores, it is time for action) I am so concerned about what we are doing for school this winter and next spring i can hardly focus to get ready for the holidays (i will post update w/ scores at end of thread)

thank you Dottie! i will be sure to mention that. they know why we are testing so hopefully are doing that anyway. she knows we are not looking for disabilities so i can't imagine including subtests like that. and thanks gratified3, you are probably right lol

My Dd6, did her WISC and WJ a couple of months ago. She enjoyed both days but much more the achievement testing. Tester had told me she expected to be done in a little over an hour. they went on for over 2 hours (small snack/bathroom breaks in there). That was with only those 9 basics.

Good luck to DS!

broad reading 144 99.8%
broad math 157 >99.9%
broad written language 149 >99.9%

are these "borderline" scores? i can see the math is high but how high? DYS and DA want 145 but for some or for all scores? what is a total achievement score?? I was surprised that his written language score was higher than his reading score, should I have the examiner look that section over again?

i posted his WISC numbers here http://giftedissues.davidsongifted....help_GAI_159_What_does_th.html#Post62028

thanks so much for answering.

as far as the TA, how do they figure it out? is it the average of the scores from the subtests? i guess i will speak to the examiner on monday.

we will be filling the DYS application out now. Will they help us figure out something for school? DS already goes to a private gifted school that has an accelerated curriculum and differentiates for math and reading. he is in the highest level classes but bored. he likes problem solving, doesn't like creative writing (but is opening up to it a bit). He wants more science, he wants harder math. He is doing 6th grade math and says it's a review (almost half the year is over!!) I don't want to give his current school a deposit for next year!! lol Obviously I am kind of freaking out over this

Don't give that deposit until you have a plan in writing and they start implementing it before the end of January. If homeschooling is an option, you may want to consider getting them to agree to a 'pay by the month' from your credit card thing.

If not, maybe to try the public school with a full range of subject accelerations. Do fill out your application, but Don't wait for DYS to solve your advocacy problems. Get in there and make some noise!

Love and More Love,
Grinity

thanks Grinity. i feel like our school "does what it does" and doesn't really get flexible with individual student plans. they do inventory 2x a year for math and reading placement. We are going to be investigating other school districts in the area to see if we can do better that way. i have parent/teacher conferences next week. i am a bit nervous to walk in as a squeaky wheel AND ask them to kindly fill out his DYS letters of recommendation lol

My guess is that you'll do better getting a letter of recommendation from that nosy lady at the grocery store than from the school that does inventory 2x/year and doesn't 'see' that he has unmet learning needs.

One thing that school do 'see' is a child's social/emotional needs. See if you can paint the picture of a sad child who has unmet needs and ask specific 'but I don't get it?' questions about how far their tests go to determine what his needs truly are. You may be very close to having a great situation, just an 'online Math' away, so to speak.

I would call on monday for a meeting, especially if PT conferences are a 'speed dating' sort of affair. You are going to need an hour of their time at the least. I had great luck by calling the head of the school's secretary and pulling the 'gosh! maybe you can help me? I really don't know who to talk to about this! The problem goes so far beyond the individual classroom!'

Best Wishes,
Grinity

ok, so i think i got his Total Achievement score as 152. does that make sense? (i posted his scores in the OP) Anyone know what a W-score is and if it matters to me?

Also talking to the school he currently attends... he is in the highest math and reading classes, he is accelerated 3 grades, they don't go beyond that but had valid reasons that made sense to me. I left the school feeling like they are going to work on helping him in his weaker areas and talk to his teachers in the areas we are worried they are lacking.

SO ,i have done the squeaky wheel thing and when I go in for parent/teacher confs I will speak to each teacher one on one.

Next...get that DYS application in!!! I should have done it years ago but filling out the questions stresses me out!!