Evaluations & Screenings

Why is it important for my child to have an evaluation or screening? Evaluations, assessments, and screenings are critical elements of all good teaching. Instruction should be based on goals and goals are based on specific needs. In order to determine a student’s specific needs, formal evaluations, informal assessments, and/or screenings need to be administered before tutoring begins and throughout the tutoring process.

This will ensure that students are making progress and that tutors are adjusting techniques as needed. Parent questionnaires and sharing student data from the school and/or private evaluations are also an important part of the process. Once specific needs are determined, short and long term goals will be established and discussed with parents. Referrals to other professionals for additional evaluations or review of documents might be recommended if necessary. These professionals might include doctors, psychologists, psychiatrists, speech/language therapists, occupational therapists or other related services. All professionals who work with a child, including the child’s teachers, should collaborate to ensure consistency so as not to confuse a child. Tutoring instruction will be diagnostic and prescriptive which means each session the instruction will target needed skills and be adjusted as needs arise. Communication between parents and tutors are also critical for success.