A WJ V Case Study Series: CHC Theory, Part 1

About the session:

Modern learners are more complex than ever, and today’s evaluators need tools that uncover why learning breaks down—not just how a student scores. From Theory to Practice: Using Modern CHC to Drive Meaningful Evaluations introduces practitioners to the evolution of the Cattell–Horn–Carroll (CHC) theory and shows how modern CHC provides a powerful, research-based framework for understanding the cognitive processes that drive academic performance. Through a real WJ V case study, the session demonstrates how broad and narrow abilities interact as dynamic systems and how CHC-aligned assessment reveals the “story behind the scores,” leading to clearer explanations of learning difficulties and more targeted, effective intervention planning. 

Learning Objectives: 

1. Explain the evolution of modern Cattell-Horn-Carroll (CHC) theory as a research-based framework for understanding why students experience specific learning strengths and difficulties.
2. Describe intelligence as a system of interacting broad and narrow CHC abilities and explain how this systems-based view improves interpretation of learning difficulties. 
3. Apply modern CHC concepts to a real student case, using CHC-aligned assessment data to explain why learning may break down using multiple sources of

Presented by: Becki Robertson, M.Ed.

Becki Robertson, M.Ed. is a national presenter and experienced practitioner with more than 30 years of service as a public-school educational diagnostician, including leadership roles, preceded by work as both a general and special education teacher. She currently serves as Senior Product Advocate for the Woodcock-Johnson® V at Riverside Insights and as a field supervisor in an educational diagnostician certification program, supporting the preparation and professional growth of evaluation staff. Her professional interests include specific learning disability evaluations, assessment of low-incidence populations, and the application of learning theory to evidence-based evaluation and intervention practices. Outside of her professional work, Becki enjoys outdoor activities, running, crafting, and woodworking.