Assessing Culturally and Linguistically Diverse Students: A Practical Guide (Practical Intervention in the Schools) [Paperback]

Robert L. Rhodes (Author), Salvador Hector Ochoa (Author), Samuel O. Ortiz (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: April 29, 2005 | ISBN-10: 1593851413 | ISBN-13: 978-1593851415 | Edition: 1

This is the first book to present a practical, problem-solving approach with hands-on tools and techniques for assessing English-language learners and culturally diverse students from kindergarten to Grade 6. Meeting the crucial needs among practitioners and special educators working in today's schools, this resource contains research-based, step-by-step procedures for conducting effective interviews with students, parents, and teachers. Topics covered include:

* making the best use of interpreters
* addressing special issues in the pre-referral process
* conducting accurate, unbiased assessments of academic achievement, intellectual functioning, language proficiency, and acculturation.

Among the book's special features are reproducible worksheets, questionnaires, and checklists - including several in both English and Spanish - in a ready-to-use, large-size format.

Editorial Reviews

Review

"Given the growing numbers of linguistically and culturally diverse students in the schools--and their disproportionate representation in special education--it is critical for school psychologists, school administrators, and educators to become knowledgeable about the impact of culture and language on student achievement and behavior. This important, accessible resource synthesizes a complex body of literature in a manner that is easily understandable, and provides practical suggestions to improve prereferral and special education decision making."--Jessica Blom-Hoffman, PhD, Department of Counseling and Applied Educational Psychology, Northeastern University

"This book contains a wealth of information that every school psychologist and child psychologist assessing English language learners should have at hand. The issues are clearly presented and carefully argued. The reader is led to appreciate the need for a complex, integrated approach for untangling the relative influence of cultural and linguistic factors on test performance."--Jonathan Sandoval, PhD, School of Education, University of California, Davis

"A 'must read.' This book provides an excellent, integrated approach to assessing culturally and linguistically diverse children. Coverage includes legal and ethical requirements, the use of interpreters, practical information about specific measures, and other relevant topics. It will be of value to a broad range of professionals serving children in schools, community agencies, and hospitals. The book will also serve as a first-class text for psychologists-in-training because of the many resources it contains and the completeness with which each topic is treated."--Ena Vazquez-Nuttall, EdD, Combined Doctoral Program in School and Counseling Psychology, Northeastern University

"This book serves as a solid introduction to the challenges facing educators, particularly school psychologists, who work with children from diverse backgrounds. The scenarios presented throughout the book provide practical guidelines and examples of situations that school psychologists are likely to encounter. A particular strength of the book is the consideration of culture and language as dynamic and changing rather than static and absolute. The discussion of issues in bilingual assessment is particularly important and helps to frame the state of the art."--Elizabeth D. Peña, PhD, Department of Communication Sciences and Disorders, University of Texas at Austin

Product Details

• Paperback: 234 pages
• Publisher: Guilford Press; 1 edition (April 29, 2005)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1593851413
• ISBN-13: 978-1593851415
• Product Dimensions: 10.8 x 8.3 x 0.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.4 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #114,629 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

9 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars I Highly Recommend This Book, March 18, 2006

By 

Dr. P. Koepsel - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Assessing Culturally and Linguistically Diverse Students: A Practical Guide (Practical Intervention in the Schools) (Paperback)

I attended a conference in Corpus Christi, Texas and had the pleasure of hearing Dr. Samuel Ortiz, and Dr. Hector Ochoa present on culturally and linguistically diverse students. I purchased the book when I returned home. It is an excellent resource that is clearly written, and has several tables and charts that can be adapted for use with school psychologists. I am coordinator of psychological services with a school district and this is a resource I rely on frequently. I highly recommend the text.

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars standard book, April 9, 2007

By 

M. Thomas (CA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Assessing Culturally and Linguistically Diverse Students: A Practical Guide (Practical Intervention in the Schools) (Paperback)

This book is not amazing or spectaculat but it's a must have. It has lots of essential information for school psychologists. My one complaint is that it focuses on language, especially Spanish. It does not focus on other cultures, just other languages.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Must read, May 30, 2011

By 

Andrea Dennison - See all my reviews

This review is from: Assessing Culturally and Linguistically Diverse Students: A Practical Guide (Practical Intervention in the Schools) (Paperback)

This book is essential for anyone who assesses English Language Learners, including (and perhaps especially) those practitioners who come from the dominant culture and/or speak only English.