Course Overview
Assessment Week
What We Can Learn About Students’ Learning Needs Through Assessment
This convenient four-day series helps all educators refresh their knowledge of assessment and gain a better understanding of the fundamentals of testing.
Join nationally recognized assessment expert, Dr. Melissa Farrall, for a series of live virtual seminars on assessing student strengths and weaknesses, determining interventions, linking assessment data to instruction, and building effective strategies to support all students.
Who is this course for?
This course is for all educators, especially special educators, speech-language pathologists, reading specialists/interventionists, and school psychologists.
Course description
We will use a case-study approach as a vehicle for learning about how individual strengths and weaknesses manifest in our students, and for understanding how specific difficulties can get in the way of learning how to read, write, listen, speak, and do math.
In this series, we will review some of the more commonly used tests of academic achievement: the good, the bad, and the ugly. We will go beyond the scores to look at what tests actually measure and what they do not. We will learn how to think critically about the data obtained, and how we can use this information to improve our instructional recommendations.
What you will learn:
- How we can improve our understanding of student learning through multiple sources of test data;
- How we can go beyond test scores to learn more about student strengths and weaknesses;
- How we can use knowledge of student strengths and weaknesses to understand why learning can be difficult;
- How to use this knowledge to strengthen the link between what we learn from testing and effective instructional recommendations;
- What different achievement tests measure and what they neglect;
- How a deeper knowledge of learner profiles can enrich learning for all.
- What kinds of data we can obtain from different tests; and
- How we can link the data that we take to instructional recommendations.
Please note, this is a four-day series with no option for signing up for individual sessions.
Topics covered:
June 26: Testing Beyond the Numbers
8:30–10:00 AM/EST: Basic Reading
1:00–2:30 PM/EST: Reading Fluency
June 27: Testing Beyond the Numbers
8:30–10:00 AM/EST: Listening/Oral Expression
1:00–2:30 PM/EST: Reading Comprehension
June 28: Testing Beyond the Numbers
8:30–10:00 AM/EST: Written Expression
1:00–2:30 PM/EST: Math Calculation/Reasoning
June 29: Learn the ABCs of Achievement Testing
8:30–10:00 AM/EST: Achievement Test Batteries, including, but not limited to, Kaufman Test of Educational Achievement, Third Edition® and Wechsler Individual Achievement Test, Fourth Edition®
1:00–2:30 PM/EST: Tests Measuring Underlying Processes for Reading and Spelling, including, but not limited to: Phonological Awareness Test, Second Edition NU®/ Comprehensive Test of Phonological Processing, Second Edition®
Registration/application info:
Ready to register? Spots are limited and are available on a first-come, first-serve basis for registrants who submit payment or a purchase order. Please have a credit card or digital copy of your PO on hand when you register.
Payment policy: Registrations received without payment, or a completed purchase order will not hold a spot for you in the course.
Find our withdrawal policy and other terms and conditions here.
Cancellation date: The Stern Center reserves the right to cancel any scheduled workshop due to low enrollment ten days prior to each course or workshop.
Dates
June 26–29, 2023 (Monday–Thursday)
Time
8:30–10:00 AM and 1:00–2:30 PM ET
(two sessions per day for four days)
Course Number(s)
1412
Location and Format
Cost
$800
When you register for the course, apply for grant funding—which can reduce tuition by 20%.
Grade Level
Audience
Melissa Farrall, Ph.D., SAIF
Affiliated Distinguished Scholar
What Teachers Have to Say
Meet the Instructor(s)
Melissa Farrall, Ph.D., SAIF
Affiliated Distinguished Scholar
Melissa Farrall, Ph.D., Program Manager for Evaluation, is the author of Reading Assessment: Linking Language, Literacy, and Cognition, and the co-author of All About Tests & Assessments published by Wrightslaw. Dr. Farrall is Clinical Assistant Professor in the Department of Neurological Sciences at University of Vermont College of Medicine. She presents nationally on topics related […]
Supporting Teachers
Grants for Professional Learning
The Cynthia K. Hoehl Institute for Excellence awards grants to individual educators and school cohorts seeking better outcomes for students through our programs. Learn more about Cynthia K. Hoehl, whose vision as an educator inspired a powerful legacy.
Frequently Asked Questions
What terms and conditions are there for professional learning registrations?
Please read the terms and conditions for our courses and workshops and contact us if you have any questions.
How do I register?
- If the course or workshop you’re interested in is on our website, please visit the course or workshop’s page and follow the link to access our online registration form. Complete the form by doing the following:
- Indicate whether you will pay with a credit card or a Purchase Order (PO).
- Fill out the participant information and workshop information sections.
- Read the Terms and Conditions and check the box to confirm your agreement.
- Click “Next”
- If you are paying with a PO:
- Please verify that your PO is complete.
- Send your file to the Stern Center by mail or email to proflearning@sterncenter.org.
- Click “Next.”
- Your information will be sent to us to review. In 1–2 business days, we will confirm your registration by emailing you “Registration Confirmation” in the subject line.
- If you are paying with a credit card:
- Click “Next” to indicate whether you want to subscribe to our mailing list.
- Click “Continue.”
- Click “Buy Now” to continue to Authorize.net
- Enter your credit card information and click “Pay now” to complete your credit card transaction.
- Your information will be sent to us to review. In 1–2 business days, we will confirm your registration by sending you an email with “Registration Confirmation” in the subject line.
- If the course or workshop you’re interested in is not listed on our website, please contact us to learn more.
I want to apply for tuition funding. When and how do I do this?
The Stern Center’s Cynthia K. Hoehl Institute for Excellence (CKHIE) provides grants to reduce the cost of our programs for educators, helping to make vital professional learning more readily accessible. When you register for a course or workshop, we’ll ask if you want to apply for grant funding. Select “Yes,” and we’ll ask how the grant will help your work as an educator. You will be required to submit a paragraph or two about your professional learning goals.
After you apply for funding, we’ll calculate the amount of your grant and subtract it from the cost of the course or workshop. Most grants provide 20% off of tuition.
You can read more about applying for grant funding here.
I’m considering taking a course for graduate credit. How long do I have to decide?
Graduate Credit Policy
Castleton University: If you are registering for a course that offers graduate credit from Castleton University, you may add graduate credit up to and including the first day of class. We will happily accommodate you if you wish to add graduate credit later, within the university’s deadline. Please register by the end of the first day of class to avoid a processing fee of $25 in addition to the graduate credit cost.
Saint Michael’s College: If you are registering for a course that offers graduate credit from Saint Michael’s College, you may add graduate credit up to and including the first day of class. No additions can be accepted after the first day of class.
Graduate Credit Withdrawal Policy: For classes running consecutive days, participants who withdraw must decide by the end of the first day whether to request a graduate credit refund. To request a refund, email the Professional Learning Intake Coordinator at proflearning@sterncenter.org or by phone at 802-276-8745.
My school said they would register me. Do I need to do anything else?
Please confirm with your school that they have completed all the necessary steps to register you. Please do not plan to attend the class without verifying that you are registered, as we may be unable to accommodate you due to limited seating.
What can tuition funding be used for?
Tuition funding through the Cynthia K. Hoehl Institute may be used for a percentage of the following professional learning costs:
- Tuition
Funding cannot be applied to the following:
- Graduate credits
- MindPlay Comprehensive Reading Course
- Travel costs
- Materials costs
What is a purchase order or PO?
- A purchase order (PO) is a document from your school or district stating that they will pay a certain amount for you to attend a course or workshop. A PO allows us to invoice your school or district for your attendance.
- A PO might look something like this.
- A PO is not a number. Please supply the complete document to register, not just the PO number.
How do I register with a purchase order?
You’ll need to complete a purchase order (PO) before you register. Make sure your PO fulfills the following:
- The PO is issued to “Stern Center for Language and Learning.”
- The unit price is for the total cost (if your school or district pays for only part of the total cost, please email us at proflearning@sterncenter.org.
- The PO is signed by an authorized party at your school or district.
Once your PO is complete, please send us a copy of the document. You can send it by mail or email to proflearning@sterncenter.org when you submit your contact information.
Can you invoice my school or district so they can make a PO?
Unfortunately no. We cannot submit invoices without first receiving a PO.
My school/district/I sent you a PO. Why am I not registered?
Ensure you have also completed and submitted a registration form and your PO. Without both documents, we cannot register you.
Make sure you sent us a copy of the PO itself and not just a PO number or a letter of intent from your school or district. We cannot invoice either of these items without the PO document itself.
Please get in touch with us if you haven’t received confirmation of your registration 1–2 business days after you submitted a completed PO and the registration information form. We may have missed one of these documents and would appreciate your letting us know to look for them.
My School or district won’t cover the total cost of a course or workshop. How can I complete my registration?
If your school or district is paying for only part of the total cost, please get in touch with us by calling 802-276-8745 or emailing proflearning@sterncenter.org. To complete your registration, you must send the remaining balance by check or credit card payment.
How do I pay for graduate credit?
Please make all payments to the Stern Center for Language and Learning. We’ll handle the rest!
If you are worried about the course or workshop filling up, you can pay with a credit card or check while you wait for your PO to be completed. Please check with your school or district before doing this to make sure you can be reimbursed when the PO is completed.
If paying for the course out-of-pocket isn’t an option for you, please get in touch with us.
My school or district is still working on my PO. Can I still register?
We’re sorry, but we cannot accept registrations without proof or payment or proof of intent to pay (such as a completed PO).
Can I still take a course if I need to miss one or more days?
All participants must be prepared for and attend every class and be ready to participate as required by the instructor.
If that is not possible for you, please get in touch with us before registering. You may still be able to take the course in some instances, but such decisions are at the course instructor’s discretion. Please refer to our Attendance & Participation Policy.
Can I audit a course or workshop?
Auditing our public offerings is not available. All attendees must register, pay tuition, and follow the attendance and participation policy.
If you are an organization that has contracted with us to deliver a course or workshop, please get in touch with us at proflearning@sterncenter.org for auditing information.
Do I need to register with Wilson® after I enroll in the course or workshop with the Stern Center?
If you wish to receive a certificate of attendance, access additional resources, and register for graduate credit (when available), you will need to pre-register with Wilson. These resources and materials are only available through Wilson.
Our Reach by the Numbers
1,400+
Teachers Served This Year
When a teacher takes one of our courses, the positive impact ripples beyond one life, spreading through an entire classroom, school, and community.
Our Reach by the Numbers
17,374+
Student Services Hours This Year
We offer one-on-one teaching that transforms lives, lifts up voices, and inspires learners to bring forth their unique gifts to a world that awaits them.
Our Reach by the Numbers
475+
Schools Served This Year
We celebrate the dedication of our school partners and share their commitment to a brighter future for all learners.
Our Reach by the Numbers
38
States and Counting
We’re a national leader in language and literacy. Our impact currently extends across 38 states and several countries through the thousands of educators we reach and students we serve.
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Resources for Teachers
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Teachers Making Change
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to helping every learner grow and thrive.
Course & Registration FAQs
Do you have questions about course registration, credits, grants, or anything else? Find your answers here!
Get in Touch!
For questions about courses and workshops, email proflearning@sterncenter.org, call 802-878-2332, or fill out the form below.
