Answer

Data Use, Collection, and Application

Allocate at least 5 hours to complete this field experience.  In this assignment, you will conduct a needs assessment with one student from the class. Use the data collected to select appropriate research-based instructional strategies and assessments for meeting the needs of this student. Choose a student who has an IEP to gain experience in working with students who have diverse learning needs. For confidentiality purposes, do not include the student’s full name.

Needs Assessment

1. In 50 words, write a demographic profile of the school and student. Consider the school and student’s language and language status, racial/ethnic background, parental involvement, and socioeconomic status.

Student A. K is an African American immigrant from Ghana. Both his parents are Ghana natives who moved to America in search of better jobs. Student A.K. is a fifth-grader. Student A.K. speaks both English and Akan language fluently. Student A.K. also happens to have the most collaborative parents in his class, portrayed by their concerns about their child’s performance and wellbeing in school. Student A.K.’s parents show some financial struggles as they are always late in paying their son’s school fees.

2. Use the chart below to assess the student’s English language arts skills. Check the appropriate box for the selected student.

In 50-100 words, write your observations of the students’ habits, practices, and patterns in the English language arts classroom. Focus on his or her reading, writing, listening, and speaking skills.

 I would generally rate student A.K as an average student with great potential of excelling. The student can read and write English fluently. He demonstrates the ability to understand complex tasks, follow instructions and generate new approaches and ideas of learning. Student A.K is a fluent reader and can pronounce complex words correctly. A unique quality I admire from student A.K is his ability to concentrate well and remember phrases easily. Regardless, student A.K demonstrates poor social relationships with his peers which is highly influenced by his Ghanaian accent. Student A.K. barely speaks to his classmates and has only one friend in his class; who happens to be also African American.

3. Responding to the Needs Assessment Data

Talk to the classroom teacher about the student’s short-term and long-term literacy goals. In 50-100 words, describe these goals. In an additional 100 words, based on the needs assessment, offer three research-based instructional and assessment methods or strategies that the teacher can use to assist this student in reaching the described goals. Cite at least two sources that support the methods and strategies using in-text citations and a references list.

From my assessment, I would describe student A.K. as a visionary based on his approaches to learning and performance. The student’s short-term literacy goal is to increase fluency when speaking aloud. Student A.K. feels that his Ghanaian accent prohibits him from speaking fluently judging from the way his classmates bully and mock him. He says that back in his previous school he was the most talkative and influential student. He believes that developing an American accent will help boost his self-confidence as well as improve his speaking skills. Student A.K’s long-term literacy goal is to be able to read a wider variety of genres. He says that while mysteries and realistic fictions are his favorites, he has a desire for poetry and science fiction. A.K claims that reading is only relevant if one understands; and through practice and assistance from his teachers, it will be possible. Based on the needs assessment, I would recommend the following strategies that the teacher could adopt: intensifying reading research, collaborating with parents and other staff, and adopting evidence-based approaches of learning. I believe that the initial approach that the teacher should take is to ensure that he or she creates an environment that fosters more effective reading. Thus, the teacher needs to develop intensive professional development approaches that will promote effective reading strategies for the student. For instance, the teacher needs to develop effective reading approaches that will support the learning of a wide variety of genres, thus help in achieving A.K’s long-term goal. As confirmed by McCleskey et al. (2017), effective collaboration among teachers, parents, and students is crucial in learning. Students like A.K. need support from both their parents and teachers to foster effective reading and learning. Thus, the teacher needs to establish good relations with A.K’s parents as well as other staff members in school to ensure that he copes well with the ‘culture shock’ that he is currently experiencing. Biesta (2017) argues that education practice needs to rely on evidence rather than ideology as it is faster and less subject to absolute shift. For instance, in the case of Student A.K, the teacher should realize that controlling bullying and mockery in the class will help boost A.K’s self-confidence thus achieving his short-term goal.