[senco-forum] Away for three and half years and back on board

Hi Sue
  I'm really glad to hear of SEN specialists in home tuition.  It's not been my experience when I've had contact.

  Here are my answers
  What reading and spelling age assessment tests do you now use?
  WRAT because the exam boards accept it and the LA recomend it.  Seems as useful as any.

Does anyone have one of those thingies that say what reading level a text is?
  Copy or type it into Word.  Spell check and grammar check.  Look at the Flesch-Kincaid Index score at the bottom and add 6.  That gives you a reading age.

What diagnostic tests do folk use for SpLD?
  Dyslexia Screening Test plus whatever I feel will help from WRAT, Neale Analysis, British Picture Vocabulary Scale, a quick hearing screener from the good old Aston Index plus 'gut feeling'.

What top ten SpLD friendly materials would you recommend for a poorly funded service?  I can't think of ten but I do think these are a priority.
  Get the pupils doing loads of physical activity based on 
  Developmental Dyspraxia: Identification and Intervention: A Manual for Parents and Professionals (Paperback) by Madeleine Portwood.  Costs 20 quid but worth every penny)
  Make sure all worksheets are in a SpLD dyslexia font like Comic Sans.  Costs nothing extra.
  Get 'Alpha to Omega' and use all the ideas.
  Educate all the staff!!

Sorry - no knowledge of these.
What is the current view on Eddie Carron's reading library?
What is the current view on THRASS?

  Amanda
  Secondary SENCO
  Cornwall

SUSAN WALSH <susan.walsh12 at btinternet.com> wrote:
  Well I've been out of the loop for three and half year swith a bout of ME but i am glad to say I am now healed and back in teaching. However on a much reduced scale. I now work for the local EOTAS (Home Tuition Service to you and me!!)

However, folk have caught on to my SEN experience and have been asking a few questions, I have to admit the fog of time has descended on me, and old age. So can you help?

So here goes:

What reading and spelling age assessment tests do you now use?
Does anyone have one of those thingies that say what reading level a text is?
What diagnostic tests do folk use for SpLD?
What top ten SpLD friendly materials would you recommend for a poorly funded service?
What is the current view on Eddie Carron's reading library?
What is the current view on THRASS?

Thanks in anticipation. It's good to be back!!

Sue

Amanda
Secondary SENCO
Cornwall