WRITING A WRITING A COMPREHENSIVE COMPREHENSIVE

REPORT IN SPECIAL REPORT IN SPECIAL EDUCATIONEDUCATION

Chapter SixteenChapter Sixteen

CHAPTER OBJECTESCHAPTER OBJECTES

Identifying dataIdentifying data Reason for referralReason for referral Background historyBackground history ObservationsObservations Tests administeredTests administered Test resultsTest results

Test by test analysisTest by test analysis Content area by Content area by

content area analysiscontent area analysis ConclusionsConclusions RecommendationsRecommendations Summary tableSummary table

Understand why reports need to be written, general guidelines when writing a report, and all

sections of a comprehensive report including:

REPORT WRITINGREPORT WRITING

Practical GuidelinesPractical Guidelines

Write the report in the third personWrite the report in the third person Single space your report to condense the Single space your report to condense the

lengthlength In general, try to separate your In general, try to separate your

recommendation section into three partsrecommendation section into three parts

Practical GuidelinesPractical Guidelines

Try to write the report in the past tense as Try to write the report in the past tense as often as possibleoften as possible

Always separate sectionsAlways separate sections Underline, bold, or italicize paragraph Underline, bold, or italicize paragraph

headings so that they stand out and area headings so that they stand out and area easy to locateeasy to locate

Write reports using complete sentencesWrite reports using complete sentences

Criteria for Writing a Criteria for Writing a Comprehensive ReportComprehensive Report

Identifying DataIdentifying Data

NameName AddressAddress PhonePhone Date of BirthDate of Birth GradeGrade SchoolSchool Chronological Age at Chronological Age at

the Time of Testing the Time of Testing (CA)(CA)

Parents’ NamesParents’ Names TeacherTeacher Referred ByReferred By Date/s of TestingDate/s of Testing Date of ReportDate of Report ExaminerExaminer

Reason for ReferralReason for Referral

Explains to the reader the specific reasons Explains to the reader the specific reasons why this evaluation is taking place.why this evaluation is taking place.

It should not be more than two to three It should not be more than two to three sentences, but should be comprehensive sentences, but should be comprehensive enough to clarify the purpose.enough to clarify the purpose.

Background HistoryBackground History

Family HistoryFamily HistoryDevelopmental HistoryDevelopmental HistoryAcademic HistoryAcademic HistorySocial HistorySocial History

Behavioral ObservationsBehavioral Observations

Includes a description of a child’s Includes a description of a child’s behaviors during the testing sessionsbehaviors during the testing sessions

Here, for the first time, you are providing Here, for the first time, you are providing the reader with your professional and first-the reader with your professional and first-hand observation of this child in a hand observation of this child in a controlled settingcontrolled setting

Tests and Procedures Tests and Procedures AdministeredAdministered

A simple list of the individual tests included A simple list of the individual tests included in the test battery and any procedures in the test battery and any procedures used to enhance the report, such as used to enhance the report, such as classroom observation, review of records, classroom observation, review of records, and parent intake.and parent intake.

Test ResultsTest Results

Analyzes the results of each test and looks Analyzes the results of each test and looks

at the child’s individual performance on each at the child’s individual performance on each

measure.measure.

Test by Test ApproachTest by Test Approach

Separately analyses the child’s performance on Separately analyses the child’s performance on

each test.each test.

Content Area by Content Area ApproachContent Area by Content Area Approach

Analyses the results separately by content areaAnalyses the results separately by content area

ConclusionsConclusions

Probably the essence of the reportProbably the essence of the report The examiner explains in very simple The examiner explains in very simple

terms to the reader the trends in the child’s terms to the reader the trends in the child’s testing results that may indicate academic testing results that may indicate academic strengths and weaknesses, modality strengths and weaknesses, modality strengths and weaknesses, process strengths and weaknesses, process strengths and weaknesses, and overall strengths and weaknesses, and overall diagnosis and level or severity of the diagnosis and level or severity of the problems areas indicated.problems areas indicated.

RecommendationsRecommendations

Recommendations to the schoolRecommendations to the school Recommendations to the teacherRecommendations to the teacher Recommendations to the parentRecommendations to the parent

Evaluation Summary TableEvaluation Summary Table

A useful part of the report that summarizes A useful part of the report that summarizes and places all test scores in one specific and places all test scores in one specific area.area.

CHAPTER OBJECTESCHAPTER OBJECTES

Identifying dataIdentifying data Reason for referralReason for referral Background historyBackground history ObservationsObservations Tests administeredTests administered Test resultsTest results

Test by test analysisTest by test analysis Content area by Content area by

content area analysiscontent area analysis ConclusionsConclusions RecommendationsRecommendations Summary tableSummary table

Understand why reports need to be written, general guidelines when writing a report, and all

sections of a comprehensive report including:

THE ENDTHE END