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Hello! I am a preservice teacher working on completing my degree in education. I have found it difficult to differentiate my assessments for students with differing needs. I typically fall back into grading all the same. Does anyone have any advice to help me differentiate grading for my students with differing needs? I hate to feel like I am assessing them unfairly. Thank you!

Hi! I am also a preservice teacher earning a degree in elementary education. While I don't have a specific answer for you, I would maybe suggest trying to change the way you assess before you change the way you grade the assessment. When you are innovative in the way you approach testing your students' knowledge, you don't have to be creative in how you evaluate their results. Assessment doesn't always have to look like a paper-pencil test, in fact it probably shouldn't follow the traditional format more than it needs to. When you give students the opportunity to express what they know in a way that caters to all different types of diverse learning needs, it should be easier to understand where they are at and to give them a 'grade' based on what they show you. Hope this helps!

Hi, 

It is important to assess students on grade-level content to ensure that the assessment reflects their understanding of the material. However, accommodations can be made to support individual needs. For example, if a student takes a significant amount of time to read a test with 10 questions, consider allowing them to answer only 5 questions. This approach enables you to evaluate their grasp of the content without the assessment being hindered by reading challenges.

For students who struggle with reading, providing the test in a PDF format with a text-to-speech feature can be beneficial. This allows the assessment to be read aloud to the student, facilitating a better understanding of the material.

Additionally, if you have students who may be at risk for learning disabilities and you're uncertain about their specific needs, it is essential to initiate the Multi-Tiered System of Supports (MTSS) process. This will help in identifying appropriate interventions and supports for the student. These strategies aim to create a fair and effective assessment environment for all learners.