How did you choose the basic
concept words tested in the WABC®? Licensed
and practicing preschool teachers(285) across different regions of the United States
were asked to rate a list of concepts in terms of their importance and relevance
to academic success. A total of 238 questionnaires were returned. The results of
this questionnaire, words obtained from the major basic concept assessments available
today, and a pilot study were instrumental in determining the basic concept words
chosen for the
WABC®.
Did you compare the WABC®
to another basic concepts test? Yes. A concurrent validity
study was conducted in which the results of the
WABC® were
compared to the results of the
Boehm Test of Basic Concepts-3 Preschool
(Boehm-3 Preschool) and
Boehm Test of Basic Concepts-3 (Boehm-3). The results
indicated significant correlations between the
Boehm-3 tests and the
WABC®.
Why is it important to assess basic
concepts in children? Basic concepts are the building blocks
that children need to follow directions, engage in classroom routines, and provide
descriptions of the world around them. They are fundamental for performing everyday
tasks such as reading, writing, speaking, and math. Knowledge of these concepts
is directly related to academic achievement.
How is the WABC®
different from other tests of basic concepts? The
WABC®
differs from other basic concept tests in many ways.
First, the
WABC® evaluates the receptive and expressive use
of basic concepts.
WABC® presents the concepts in opposite
(big/small) and/or related pairs (half/whole), rather than single, unrelated concepts.
Second, the test is in an interactive storybook format giving the examiner the opportunity
to test the child in a more natural setting. There is test no easel. Instead, the
WABC®
embeds concept pairs or related words in colorfully illustrated scenes of a
storybook.
Third, the
WABC® kit contains two age-level tests for evaluating
the understanding and use of basic concepts. Level 1 -
A Day at the Zoo
is for the preschool child from 2;6 to 5;11 years. Level 2 -
A Day at the Park
is for children in kindergarten and the early elementary grades from 5;0 to 7;11.
How can I use the results of the
WABC® to identify areas of weakness and write IEP goals?
The results of testing for both Level 1 and Level 2 can be summarized on the
WABC®
inventory form. This form categorizes the basic concepts into seven semantic categories:
Color/Shape, Weight/Volume, Distance/Speed/Time, Quantity/Completeness, Location/Direction/Condition/Quality,
Sensation/Emotion/Evaluation. You may transfer the testing results to this form
in order to assist you in writing IEP goals and explaining the results of the test
to parents.
Can I preview the WABC®
test prior to purchasing it? Yes. Have the supervisor of
your district, school, or speech department fax your request on company/school letterhead
(1-800-978-7379), and we will send you a review copy. You may also email the request
to Customer Help at
customerhelp@superduperinc.com, or contact Customer Help at 1-800-277-8737.
