Features

The SENS is grounded in a conceptual framework that reflects state-of-the-art research on number sense development, including work by two of the SENS authors, Nancy C. Jordan and Alice Klein. The SENS framework is based on three evidence-informed assumptions:

• Number sense encompasses subdomains of number, number relations, and number operations;
• Number sense difficulties predict later math achievement and can be identified early; and
• Number sense is malleable and can be taught to most children.

Technical and Statistical Characteristics of the SENS

The SENS was validated on a weighted sample of 1,150 children from diverse socioeconomic and linguistic backgrounds. Scoring the SENS is straightforward: Each item is scored as correct/incorrect and then a Total Raw Score is computed based on the total number of correct items. This Total Raw Score can be used to determine a student’s risk status for mathematical learning difficulties by referring to the Risk Status table for each grade level in Appendix A of the SENS Manual. The cut scores on the Risk Status tables help to identify students who need targeted instructional support or further diagnostic evaluation. The SENS Manual also includes a comprehensive discussion of the test’s theoretical and research-based foundation, item development, standardization, administration and scoring procedures, and guidelines for using and interpreting the test’s results.

The SENS internal consistency and test–retest reliability coefficients at each grade level are > 0.9. Predictive validity is high across grade levels (> 0.79). Diagnostic accuracy studies demonstrated the test’s ability to differentiate children who have exceptionalities that might negatively impact numeracy skills from those who do not. Specifically, receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analyses revealed that the SENS is highly accurate in discriminating between children at risk and not at risk for showing math learning difficulties one year later.

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