The following is a suggested process for diagnostic instructional decision making. The purpose is to provide an example of the kind of observations a teacher makes in order to determine a pattern of strengths and weaknesses for every student and decide upon instructional interventions.

Also provided are some forms that can be used as samples to direct each student's learning. A copy of the forms can be made for each student and sent home or kept at school for your own direction. Go to the forms now (form 1 and form 2).

Remember, you are the classroom teacher and the expert diagnostician when it comes to your students' needs. These processes are just to assist you, not replace your decision making skills and expertise. They will not replace your expert observations, but rather provide an example that may be useful to you.

First Grade - Beginning of the Year ...

Administer the entire Inventory Section. This will give you more information on where the student needs help the most.

Administer the Phonemic Awareness Tasks. Then, answer the following question.

Has the student developed the concepts assessed with the Phonemic Awareness Tasks (blending onset-rime, blending phonemes, initial and final phoneme deletion)?