A very big part of our job is assessment. You may have caught my previous blog post about my new semi-obsession with disinfecting therapy materials. Well, when I was packing up my testing materials to do two evaluations recently, I realized that I couldn’t risk germ transmission through the testing materials that two children would be touching that day.
All I could think was, “my sweet babies can’t be touching these stimulas materials!” My biggest fear lately is having some part in a child getting sick. At first I thought, I’ll just let them use a pencil, but the tests were from a clinic I contract with, and I didn’t want them getting marked up.
You know that old saying, “necessity is the mother of invention?” It certainly was on this day. I remembered that I had recently bought 2 pointers at Target Dollar Spot. Lightbulb moment!! I ran to get them and threw them in my bag. VOILA! Germ free testing! These pointers were just what I needed. Plus, the kids kids got a kick out of using them.
Don’t have a pointer? That’s okay! Just use a pen, an unsharpened pencil or one with a fun eraser on it, a tongue depressor, or a magic wand toy. You could also slip a page protector on each page, although that could get time consuming.
Testing is looking different for those children I treat or assess in teletherapy, too. I’ve had to make sure I have good lighting to show the stimulas materials clearly. I use a mini light ring and a wall lamp that I happen to have near my desk. The ring light I use (pictured below) is no longer in stock at Amazon, but here is one that is comparable. (affiliate link) It also makes your face more visible to clients during therapy.
This screen shot below shows what articulation assessment looks like through teletherapy.
Language assessment comes with even more challenges. Thus far, I’ve been choosing test batteries that don’t require pointing because that will be a tricky situation. If you have conquered that virtual language assessment challenge, I’d truly love you hear your tips!
I hope this gives you some food for thought! Be safe out there!
Oh, while we’re on the topic of Covid, do you want some tips and tricks to make mask wearing more tolerable? Just sign up for my list HERE and instantly get the tips! Spoiler alert, my list also comes with access to a free resouces library. Who doesn’t want free stuff??
Be well and hang in there!
XO
My students love using the pizza to make choices! It makes assessments more fun for sure!