Subject: Special Education
Grade Level(s): Pre-K – 12
Measures Growth: No
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The Woodcock Johnson III NU Tests of Cognitive Abilities is based on the Cattell-Horn-Carroll (CHC) theory of cognitive abilities. The assessment, which offers both a Standard Battery and Extended Battery, is grouped into broad categories of Thinking Ability, Verbal Ability and Cognitive Efficiency. Evaluation procedures also allow for measuring discrepencies between abilities and achievement.
Cons: Misses growth of some students, such as those far below and/or far above grade level • Takes students too long to complete
Cons: Difficult to administer • Doesn't help me track my students' learning gains over time • It is hard to use the data • Is not helpful to my professional growth as a teacher
this is not a comprehensive evaluation of growth
Submitted by Suzanne in Nevada on May 2, 2013
Pros: Assesses a range of students, including those from far below to far above grade level • Takes students a reasonable amount of time to complete
Cons: Not aligned to the standards I teach • Misses growth of some students, such as those far below and/or far above grade level
Pros: Easy to administer • Results returned quickly • Helps me track my students' learning gains over the course of the school year • Data is presented clearly
Cons: Is not helpful to my professional growth as a teacher
Th s a good assessment if it is combined with other assessments. It shows general information but does not directly link it to common core standards needs.
Submitted by A Sped in Tennessee on April 24, 2013
Cons: Not aligned to the standards I teach • Does not assess higher-order thinking
Pros: Results returned quickly • Data is presented clearly
Cons: Is not helpful to my professional growth as a teacher
This assessment is a good starting point to see what level the student is currently functioning at, however I think it does not go into enough depth. Paired with other assessments in the students weaker areas, this is a great tool for special educators.
Submitted by Kara in California on April 19, 2013
Pros: Assesses a range of students, including those from far below to far above grade level
Cons: Not aligned to the standards I teach • Does not assess higher-order thinking • Takes students too long to complete
Pros: Easy to administer • Results returned quickly • Helps me track my students' learning gains over the course of the school year • Data is presented clearly
Cons: Is not helpful to my professional growth as a teacher
The sub tests allow you to pick the ones you need for assessing reading and includes a test for writing samples and spelling.
Submitted by Barbara in Michigan on April 19, 2013
Pros: Assesses higher-order thinking • Assesses a range of students, including those from far below to far above grade level • Takes students a reasonable amount of time to complete
Pros: Easy to administer • Results returned quickly • Data is presented clearly • Data I receive helps me understand where I am teaching well and where I need to improve
This assessment is useful for providing an overall picture of present levels of performance, and a comparison of performance to same age/grade level peers.
Submitted by Debra in California on April 18, 2013
Pros: Assesses higher-order thinking • Assesses a range of students, including those from far below to far above grade level • Takes students a reasonable amount of time to complete
Cons: Not aligned to the standards I teach
Pros: Easy to administer • Results returned quickly • Helps me track my students' learning gains over the course of the school year • Data is presented clearly
Cons: Is not helpful to my professional growth as a teacher
Great assessment that does what it's supposed to do, assess academic skills.
Submitted by Kelly in California on April 16, 2013
Pros: Aligned to the standards I teach
Cons: Misses growth of some students, such as those far below and/or far above grade level • Takes students too long to complete
Cons: It is hard to use the data • Is not helpful to my professional growth as a teacher
I work with Blind/Visually impaired students in which if there is a Braille version of the test, it takes too long to administer and it is not the same as it is in print.
Submitted by Timothy in Minnesota on April 15, 2013
Pros: Assesses higher-order thinking
Cons: Not aligned to the standards I teach • Misses growth of some students, such as those far below and/or far above grade level • Takes students too long to complete
Pros: Easy to administer • Results returned quickly • Helps me track my students' learning gains over the course of the school year • Data is presented clearly • Data I receive helps me understand where I am teaching well and where I need to improve
The standards do not cover all the domains. There is little or no information about recreational/leisure skills, community functioning, domestic, or real life vocational environments. There is not enough information pasted on to the next teacher/staff about socially acceptable, age appropriate, or independence to have a good understanding of the student's abilities.
Submitted by Aneta in California on April 13, 2013
Pros: Assesses higher-order thinking • Assesses a range of students, including those from far below to far above grade level
Cons: Not aligned to the standards I teach • Takes students too long to complete
Pros: Easy to administer • Results returned quickly • Data is presented clearly
Cons: Doesn't help me track my students' learning gains over time • Is not helpful to my professional growth as a teacher
The WJ-III Cognitive is good in some ways, but I think the Auditory processing subtests are way off base when it comes to the scores students get. Almost every student I assess (and I've been giving this test for 8 years) scores in the superior range on these subtests. I have no idea who they normed this test on, because the students I test come out way too high almost every time in comparison to every other subtest. On the other hand, it does a good job measuring things like short- and long-term memory, problem-solving skills, attention, and general knowledge. It is helpful to be able to explain to parents which of these areas their students are struggling with, which affects their performance in the classroom. On the Achievement test, I think some of the questions are outdated, like a poem about a blacksmith (which kids today know what a blacksmith does?), money questions that are very outdated, and the questions on the math tests are too brief a picture of a student's ability. There are only two single-digit multiplication problems, both x5, which most students can do, so you can't tell if they know multiplication or not. I often have to give an additional math assessment to see what they really know.
Submitted by Katie in Utah on April 13, 2013
Pros: Assesses a range of students, including those from far below to far above grade level • Takes students a reasonable amount of time to complete
Pros: Easy to administer • Results returned quickly • Data is presented clearly • Data I receive helps me understand where I am teaching well and where I need to improve
I believe in this evaluation to the point I have asked for it to be used with my son and evaluating his learning with the complication of his disabilities
Submitted by Karen in Connecticut on April 13, 2013
Pros: Assesses higher-order thinking • Takes students a reasonable amount of time to complete
Cons: Misses growth of some students, such as those far below and/or far above grade level
Pros: Easy to administer • Results returned quickly
Cons: Doesn't help me track my students' learning gains over time • It is hard to use the data • Is not helpful to my professional growth as a teacher
The WJIII is a set of random data that can help ballpark the grade level in which your studemt may function. It is not a formative test that will allow you to adjust your curriculum.
Submitted by Shontoyia in California on April 12, 2013
Pros: Assesses a range of students, including those from far below to far above grade level
Cons: Not aligned to the standards I teach • Misses growth of some students, such as those far below and/or far above grade level • Takes students too long to complete
Pros: Results returned quickly
Cons: Difficult to administer • Doesn't help me track my students' learning gains over time • Is not helpful to my professional growth as a teacher
This assessment is not appropriate for students on the autism spectrum. It is verbally loaded and therefore the results are not reliable or accurate. Many of the questions are outdated and are out of the current range of what students today are familiar with.
Submitted by Gayle in Wyoming on April 10, 2013
Cons: Not aligned to the standards I teach • Does not assess higher-order thinking • Misses growth of some students, such as those far below and/or far above grade level • Takes students too long to complete
Pros: Results returned quickly • Data is presented clearly
Cons: Difficult to administer • Doesn't help me track my students' learning gains over time • Is not helpful to my professional growth as a teacher
Many of the questions are outdated. An example is the one about Miguel getting one dollar for his birthday. There is another referring to a pay phone. There are many good things about the tests, but it needs to to be updated to the 21st Century.
Submitted by Ed in California on April 10, 2013
Pros: Aligned to the standards I teach • Assesses higher-order thinking • Assesses a range of students, including those from far below to far above grade level • Takes students a reasonable amount of time to complete
Pros: Easy to administer • Results returned quickly • Helps me track my students' learning gains over the course of the school year • Data is presented clearly • Data I receive helps me understand where I am teaching well and where I need to improve
Although this is considered a diagnostic assessment, I find it to be very informative in terms of observing the students test taking skills, learning styles, learning modes, and it helps me build relationships with new students ( it is a good interactive test ).
The information that the computerized scoring puts out is helpful on many levels. Whether it is grade level or standard scores, the test presents very accurately the students functioning levels.
It is also very broad based. The number of sub-tests is vast and they can be given as needed.
I find this to be one of my favorite assessments to administer, score and share results with students, teachers and parents!
Submitted by Christy in Michigan on April 10, 2013
Pros: Aligned to the standards I teach • Assesses higher-order thinking
Cons: Misses growth of some students, such as those far below and/or far above grade level • Takes students too long to complete
Pros: Results returned quickly
Cons: Difficult to administer • Doesn't help me track my students' learning gains over time • It is hard to use the data • Is not helpful to my professional growth as a teacher
None
Submitted by Karen in Ohio on April 9, 2013
Pros: Takes students a reasonable amount of time to complete
Cons: Not aligned to the standards I teach • Does not assess higher-order thinking • Misses growth of some students, such as those far below and/or far above grade level
Pros: Easy to administer • Results returned quickly
Cons: Doesn't help me track my students' learning gains over time • Is not helpful to my professional growth as a teacher
Questions are out of date, one question to assess a skill...doesn't tell me if they guessed well or made a minor mistake
Submitted by Erin in Maryland on April 9, 2013
Pros: Assesses a range of students, including those from far below to far above grade level • Takes students a reasonable amount of time to complete
Cons: Not aligned to the standards I teach • Does not assess higher-order thinking
Pros: Easy to administer • Results returned quickly • Data is presented clearly • Data I receive helps me understand where I am teaching well and where I need to improve
Cons: Doesn't help me track my students' learning gains over time
none
Submitted by Linden in California on April 9, 2013
Pros: Assesses a range of students, including those from far below to far above grade level • Takes students a reasonable amount of time to complete
Pros: Results returned quickly • Data is presented clearly • Data I receive helps me understand where I am teaching well and where I need to improve
None
Submitted by Michelle in Massachusetts on April 5, 2012
Cons: Not aligned to the standards I teach • Misses growth of some students, such as those far below and/or far above grade level
Cons: Doesn't help me track my students' learning gains over time • Is not helpful to my professional growth as a teacher
This assesment is normed for regularly developing students. It does not assess or evaluate fairly or appropriately students whose cognitive abilities are far removed from their chronological ages.
Submitted by Vicki in Massachusetts on April 5, 2012
Cons: Not aligned to the standards I teach • Does not assess higher-order thinking • Misses growth of some students, such as those far below and/or far above grade level
Pros: Easy to administer • Results returned quickly
Cons: Doesn't help me track my students' learning gains over time
The results may not reflect what students can do in the classroom.
Submitted by Telesa in Tennessee on March 31, 2012
Pros: Assesses a range of students, including those from far below to far above grade level • Takes students a reasonable amount of time to complete
Cons: Not aligned to the standards I teach
Pros: Easy to administer • Results returned quickly • Data is presented clearly • Data I receive helps me understand where I am teaching well and where I need to improve
Cons: Doesn't help me track my students' learning gains over time
This test has a tendency to inflate test score of younger children and in some instances includes material that is not aligned with common core standards. The computer generated results are easy to read and analyze.
Submitted by Katherine in Virginia on February 29, 2012
Pros: Assesses higher-order thinking • Assesses a range of students, including those from far below to far above grade level
Cons: Not aligned to the standards I teach • Takes students too long to complete
Cons: Difficult to administer • Doesn't help me track my students' learning gains over time • It is hard to use the data • Is not helpful to my professional growth as a teacher
This test gives a big picture of a student, but the test items are poor and often a student scores much higher than they actually can perform in the classroom. The math section is completely misaligned with the state and CCSS, and therefore students who are two to three grade levels behind in math are not appearing that way from this assessment. In addition, it is difficult to tell the difference between a student with a language barrier to one that has a true learning difficulty.
Submitted by Lee in Massachusetts on February 21, 2012
Pros: Assesses a range of students, including those from far below to far above grade level
Cons: Not aligned to the standards I teach • Does not assess higher-order thinking
Pros: Results returned quickly • Data is presented clearly
Cons: Difficult to administer • Is not helpful to my professional growth as a teacher
This is not an assessment that one would use regularly. It is not meant to guide instruction. It is, however, an effective instrument when determining a snapshot of a students academic ability. Given as a formal assessment, it works pretty well.
Submitted by Tyler in California on February 10, 2012
Pros: Assesses a range of students, including those from far below to far above grade level • Takes students a reasonable amount of time to complete
Cons: Not aligned to the standards I teach
Pros: Easy to administer • Results returned quickly
Cons: Doesn't help me track my students' learning gains over time
This is a great test that allows a quick glance into the functioning of a SPED student. This assessment allows a teacher to gain valuable information on the next step for students. This assessment could lead a teacher to ask for further testing. On the other hand it could confirm a teachers thought that a student is able to fullfill the requirements for the proposed classroom.
Submitted by Charles in Tennessee on January 24, 2012
Cons: Not aligned to the standards I teach • Misses growth of some students, such as those far below and/or far above grade level • Takes students too long to complete
Pros: Results returned quickly
Cons: Difficult to administer • Doesn't help me track my students' learning gains over time • It is hard to use the data • Is not helpful to my professional growth as a teacher
We rely far too much on the WJ in determining a student's disability. In math, for example, there are only a few subtests and they are much easier than the grade-level expectations in our district. So a student may score "at grade level" in math when the rest of their work clearly shows a major gap or struggle with the mathematics we teach at grade 3. The tests take a long time to administer and the results are difficult to translate to parents.
Submitted by Caitlin in Massachusetts on January 23, 2012
Pros: Assesses higher-order thinking • Assesses a range of students, including those from far below to far above grade level
Cons: Takes students too long to complete
Pros: Easy to administer • Results returned quickly • Data is presented clearly
Cons: Is not helpful to my professional growth as a teacher
I administer the WCJ III to students as part of the CORE evaluation process to determine their levels of academic achievement. While the test is well laid out and easy to follow, I find many of the test items to be culturally biased (particularly on the passage comprehension and reading fluency sections). I also do not think that this tests accurately reflects students' achievement in the classroom; the scoring is not rigorous enough for each grade level, often making it difficult to assess whether or not students are actually achieving at grade level.
Submitted by Emily in Massachusetts on January 22, 2012
Pros: Assesses a range of students, including those from far below to far above grade level
Pros: Easy to administer • Helps me track my students' learning gains over the course of the school year
The Brief Battery Assessment allows one to gain a "big picture" idea of where a student is functioning. The student's responses and work are indicative of where a breakdown in understanding is occuring.
Submitted by Allison in District of Columbia on January 21, 2012
Pros: Assesses a range of students, including those from far below to far above grade level
Cons: Does not assess higher-order thinking • Takes students too long to complete
Pros: Easy to administer • Results returned quickly • Data is presented clearly
The Woodcock Johnson is not a reliable tool in determining whether or not a special education student has demonstrated growth in essential areas and skills.
Submitted by Tiffany in District of Columbia on January 21, 2012
Pros: Assesses higher-order thinking • Assesses a range of students, including those from far below to far above grade level
Cons: Takes students too long to complete
Pros: Results returned quickly
Cons: Doesn't help me track my students' learning gains over time • It is hard to use the data • Is not helpful to my professional growth as a teacher
I enter students' raw scores into the WJ-III computerized scoring program to determine a precise Age and Grade level performance in each subtest that is based on the students' age-month. Many of the subtests on the WJ-III attempt to isolate discrete academic skills. For example: The Writing cluster is separated into Writing Samples, Writing Fluency, and Spelling. A caveat of this is that there are no subtests that assess an authentic writing sample because the test items in the Writing Samples do not extend beyond the discrete, single sentences (one per test item). It is important to compare subtest scores within clusters. I find it helpful to compare sets of subtests, such as all of the Fluency subtests across subject (Math, Writing, and Reading) - the computerized scoring program provides aggregate scores like this in each scoring report. I also find it necessary to compare students' scores on the subtests with work or assessments they've completed in their classroom (tasks that combine multiple skills at once). Note: The subtests for Oral Language tend to score high, in my experience (have tested 20 students).
Submitted by Phuong in Massachusetts on January 19, 2012
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