Mahdavi Excerpt.pdf
A Teacher’s Guide to Progress Monitoring
Track Goals to Refine Instruction for All Students
by Jennifer N. Mahdavi, Ph.D., BCBA-D
Sonoma State University Rohnert Park, California
with invited contributors
Paul H. Brookes Publishing Co.
Post Office Box 10624
Baltimore, Maryland 21285-0624 USA
www.brookespublishing.com
Copyright © 2021 by Paul H. Brookes Publishing Co., Inc. All rights reserved.
Contents
- About the Downloads...
- About the Author...
- About the Contributors...
- Preface...
- Acknowledgments...
I Fundamentals: The Value of Progress Monitoring...
- Introduction to Progress Monitoring...
- Progress Monitoring in Foundational Academic Skill Areas...
- Progress Monitoring in Behavioral and Social Skills...
- Task Analysis: An Instructional Strategy and Assessment Tool...
II Procedures: Implementing Progress Monitoring in Your Classroom...
- Graphing Progress Monitoring Data...
- Making Decisions Based on Progress Monitoring...
- Engaging Students in Monitoring Their Own Progress...
- Managing Progress Monitoring in the Classroom...
III Practice: Case Studies in Progress Monitoring...
- Case Study: Francis...
- Case Study: Jack...
- Case Study: Natalie...
- Case Study: Christopher...
IV Putting It All Together...
- Progress Monitoring in the Real World...
- Conclusion...
About the Author
Jennifer N. Mahdavi, Ph.D, BCBA-D
Professor, Sonoma State University, Rohnert Park, California
Jennifer N. Mahdavi has been a professor and teacher-educator at the university level for nearly 2 decades. She earned her doctorate in special education from the University of California, Riverside, and she is a Board Certified Behavior Analyst (BCBA). Her experience teaching general and special education in public schools inspired her to pursue advanced study to support struggling learners.
Preface
Individuals with disabilities require careful approaches conducted by skilled professionals to ensure that they are learning and growing to meet their potential. Data-based decision making is a current buzzword that describes how teachers and specialists use assessment data to inform instructional decisions. Progress monitoring (PM) is perfectly suited to be used for data-based decision making. PM can be used at all ages for just about any skill, goal, or plan individuals wish to track.
Applications of Progress Monitoring
- Tracking individualized education program (IEP) goals.
- Charts and graphs generated through PM can be presented at IEP meetings to substantiate student growth over time.
- PM supplements formal assessments required in special education.
CHAPTER 1
Introduction to Progress Monitoring
Learning Goals
After reading this chapter, you will be able to:
- Define progress monitoring in teaching and learning.
- Summarize research-based foundations of progress monitoring.
- Identify practical applications of progress monitoring.
Progress monitoring (PM) is a well-developed method of formative assessment. It can measure both fluent performance on academic skills and advancement toward complex academic and functional goals via task analysis. PM is a flexible tool for special educators, related services professionals, and general education classroom teachers.
Progress Monitoring in Context: Overview of Assessment Types
Educators and professionals use several types of assessments for different purposes, including formative (ongoing learning) and summative (what has been learned).
| Assessment Type | Definition | Examples | Schedule of Use |
|---|---|---|---|
| Formal assessments | Standardized tests administered consistently | Various standardized tests | As needed |
| Informal assessments | Measures used to understand student growth | Observations, portfolios | As needed, weekly, daily |
| Progress-monitoring probes | Tools designed for quick assessment and data-based decision making | DIBELS, aimsweb | Weekly for students needing them |
Foundations: Progress Monitoring and Curriculum-Based Measurement
PM draws from work in Curriculum-Based Measurement (CBM) designed for teachers to make data-based decisions efficiently. It aims to measure the effects of instruction on a child's learning and permits data-based decisions regarding instructional changes needed.
Progress Monitoring Applications in Various Settings
PM is used in school and rehabilitative settings, determining eligibility for special education, and data-based decision making in classrooms. It is critical in systems of support and monitoring IEP goals.
Conclusion
Progress monitoring is an effective evidence-based practice that enhances student learning through data-based instructional strategies. Regular use of PM allows teachers and specialists to evaluate instruction and meet student needs effectively.