What type of assessment is designed to help a teacher learn about a student's spelling instructional needs?

A spelling inventory is specifically created to assess students' spelling abilities and understand their individual instructional needs in this area. This type of assessment allows teachers to examine the patterns in a student's spelling, such as common errors, phonetic understanding, and the application of spelling rules. By analyzing the results of a spelling inventory, educators can identify specific areas where a student may require additional support or targeted instruction to improve their spelling skills.

In contrast, a reading inventory typically focuses on assessing overall reading skills, including fluency and comprehension, rather than specific spelling needs. A writing assessment evaluates a student's ability to express ideas through written language, which includes vocabulary and grammar, but does not isolate spelling as a primary focus. Meanwhile, a comprehension test is designed to measure a student's understanding of text, again not directly addressing spelling abilities. Therefore, the spelling inventory stands out as the most suitable tool for identifying a student's spelling instructional requirements.