The assessment of brain development is a way to measure ability and achievement to determine whether a child is developing typically. In order to measure mental processes, children answer questions to standardized tests. Aptitude tests are used to determine the potential to master a specific skill or to learn a certain body of knowledge. Intellectual aptitude or IQ tests identify the ability a child can learn in school (Berger, 2009).
If a child is having difficulty in school passing their subjects, IQ tests or aptitude tests can help determine if a child is capable of learning the material but it needs to be presented differently. If the scores are lower, parents and educators can consider several options for the child to be able to succeed in school. I had to make a tough decision about my son's education. When the IEP team assessed my son, his aptitude score was below average. The team determined that he would benefit from a life skills classroom. The son was having a difficult time learning the foundational skills necessary to move on to the next grade level with accommodations. Even though it was not easy accepting the realization that my son would benefit from a certificate program, he is doing very well in his class where he made the honor roll and enjoys going to school.
Many developmentalists do not believe that there is a test to measure potential without measuring achievement. The culture of the people who wrote, administer and take it are reflected in every test. It is difficult to test intellectual potential because it changes over a life span. A child that receives special education services currently may later demonstrate above average or gifted intelligence. Many developmentalist believe that the brain contains not just one aptitude but many (Berger, 2009).
Reading test for six-year-olds to include non-words
Non-words were being included to check pupils' ability to decode words using phonics. The reading system allows children sound out words using letter sounds. Non-words were being included to check that children were not just regurgitating memorized words. The new test will take about ten minutes to finish which would include about to forty items that are words and non-words. Some educators feel the test is ridiculous because the purpose of reading is to understanding words. It was believed that the test was sending out the message that all words are decodable using phonics even though they are not. It was stated by the Schools minister, Nick Gibb, that children are leaving primary school without the ability to read or write properly. It has been decided to raise the standards and create new phonics-based reading checks for six year-old children to identify children that need extra help before it affects their love of learning for a lifetime (Richardson, 2011).
References
Berger, K.S. (2009). The developing child in the 21st century: A global perspective on child development. New York, NY: Routledge.
"It takes a village to raise a child." -African Proverb-
