Basic Concepts Skills Screener 3.3

The Basic Concepts Skill Screener (BCSS) serves as an effective tool for assessing fundamental concept skills in children, particularly with regards to their readiness for school. Developed by certified speech-language pathologists, the BCSS incorporates technology to engage young learners while simultaneously evaluating essential pre-reading and math skills. This tool is suitable for use across various educational stages, from preschool through early elementary grades.

Purpose
The BCSS was meticulously crafted to evaluate and provide detailed descriptions of children's basic concept skills. Mastery of these foundational concepts is crucial for students' ability to follow instructions and successfully develop reading and mathematical abilities. The screener is administered on an individual basis to identify specific areas in need of improvement regarding basic concepts.

The assessment encompasses four key domains: spatial (location), quantitative (number), comparative (description), and temporal (time) concepts. Knowledge in these areas not only enhances vocabulary but also lays the groundwork for understanding early curriculum materials (Seifert & Schwartz, 1991). By the start of first grade, children should ideally have a solid grasp of most of these concepts (McLaughlin, 1998). A robust understanding of basic concepts facilitates comparison, classification, problem-solving, and sequencing skills. Children lacking this foundational knowledge are likely to encounter difficulties not just academically but also in extracurricular activities such as sports (Boehm, 2013). Early identification and intervention for children struggling with basic concepts may mitigate long-term educational challenges.

The Basic Concepts Skills Screener provides several key functions:

• Collecting information on an individual's basic concept skills
• Supplementing data from standardized language assessments
• Measuring treatment effectiveness and skill enhancement over time
• Comparing a student's performance with peers at the same grade level
• Guiding educators and clinicians in selecting areas for targeted skill development within Response to Intervention frameworks
• Assisting in predicting student performance in classroom assessments and outcomes
• Facilitating the identification of potential language delays or disorders
• Spotting students who may be at risk for learning disorders

How to Use
The BCSS is designed for individual assessment settings. Upon accessing the home page, the facilitator has several options: adding a new student, administering a screening, navigating to support resources, or viewing reports. After selecting or entering a student, the facilitator can choose between administering the Full Screening, which consists of 79 questions taking approximately 10-15 minutes, or the Quick Screening with 30 questions, completed in about 5 minutes. Both options are appropriate for various age groups.

During the assessment process, each concept is presented alongside four illustrative pictures representing possible answers. A simple tap on a chosen image will denote the child's response with a square border. Once the facilitator taps “next,” a new concept and corresponding picture options will appear. A response is required for each presentation screen. Additionally, at any point during the screening, tapping the done button will conclude the session and direct the user to the report center.