2 Ways to Assess Student Growth

There are two ways to assess student growth in the special education classroom. More specifically, students can tell you what they know or show you what they know. 

Before I begin, there are two types of questioning techniques which include receptive and expressive language.  *disclaimer: I am not a speech or language pathologist 

A teacher can use receptive language and expressive language to help assess student growth and progress in the classroom.

Expressive language

First, expressive language is used when you want a student to tell you what they know. Some questions I like to ask

Include:

• What is this?
• Where can you find ____?
• Tell me _____. 
• What is your name? 

These types of questions allow students to give a verbal response and typically take higher level thinking. You can also use this by giving choices for students that need that accommodation. This is one way to assess student growth

Receptive language

Next, receptive language is used when you want a student to show you what they know. Some prompts I like to use

Include:

• Point to ____.
• Show me ____.
• Touch the _____.
• Where is the ______?

Students do not need to give a verbal response. They can use their fingers, devices or eye gaze to communicate their answer. Typically, multiple answers are displayed in front of the student. This is the second way to assess student growth.

Looking for more about core word languages, read this post.

Why use one way to assess student growth over the other?

For me, the two ways to assess student learning depend on the student. I have spent many years working with students that are non-verbal and early communicators with a device. 

For my students with little to no verbal communication, primarily, I test them using receptive language. I ask a question and they point to the picture, word, item, etc. 

For my students with some verbal to fully verbal skills, I primarily use expressive language. This allows the student to use higher thinking skills. They typically have to formulate a response that directly relates to the question. 

I do not rely solely on one type of assessment for my students. I make sure I use a variety of questioning techniques for all students. 

If you are looking for an assessment that works on receptive and expressive skills to assess student growth, check out my Basic Life Skills Assessment

Have you considered using Virtual Check Ins to support your students?

Conclusion

Assessing student growth in the areas of expressive and receptive skills is crucial for understanding their language development and communication abilities. Expressive testing involves evaluating a student’s ability to produce language, such as speaking, writing, or using signs, while receptive testing assesses their understanding of language through tasks like following instructions or answering questions.

To effectively assess student growth in these areas, educators can use a variety of methods, including standardized tests, observations, and informal assessments. Standardized tests provide a structured framework for measuring language skills and comparing performance to age or grade-level expectations.

Observations allow teachers to gather insights into a student’s daily communication interactions and identify strengths and areas for improvement. Informal assessments, such as checklists or rubrics, can help evaluate specific language skills and track progress over time.

By regularly assessing expressive and receptive skills, educators can gain valuable information about student growth, tailor instruction to individual needs, and support language development effectively.

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