Assessment of children's abilities and knowledge, their approaches to learning, and their strengths, needs, and interests is expected in most early childhood programs. However, many early childhood educators are unsure of how to assess young children's development and learning. This straightforward book will help increase understanding of child assessment, including its specialized and often confusing vocabulary. Focusing on children's development and learning, the authors provide an overview of basic assessment concepts. Speaking a shared language of assessment will help early childhood professionals communicate better with other teachers, specialists, administrators, and parents.
Basics of Assessment : A Primer for Early Childhood Professionals
Description
Table of Contents
Acknowledgments
About This Booklet
Getting Acquainted with Assessment
A Definition
The Process of Assessment
Why We Assess Young Children
Sound Assessment Is .
Doing Assessment
Assessment in the Classroom
What Can (and Should) Be Assessed
When to Assess
Gathering Information about Children
Looking at the Information You Gathered
Using Your Assessment Information
Making Assessment a Part of Your Classroom
Resources
References
For More Information
Glossary
Author Description
About Oralie McAfee
Oralie McAfee, professor emerita of early childhood education at Metropolitan State College of Denver, is author of numerous publications related to working with young children and their families, and has done research on assessment practices and needs in Head Start and in selected state-funded prekindergarten programs.
Deborah J. Leong is a professor of psychology at Metropolitan State College of Denver and a research fellow at the National Institute for Early Education Research (NIEER) where she is working on a computerized pre-K state standards database and a database of preschool assessment instruments with Elena Bodrova. She has written on assessment, play, early literacy, and the development of self-regulation in young children.
Elena Bodrova is a senior researcher at Mid-continent Research for Education and Learning (McREL) in Aurora, Colorado, and a research fellow at NIEER. Previously, she had been visiting professor of educational psychology at Metropolitan State College of Denver, senior researcher at the Russian Center for Educational Innovations and the Russian Institute for Preschool Education, and adjunct professor of educational psychology at Moscow Teacher Training College. She writes extensively on early literacy, play, and assessment.