The assessment of young children's development and learning has recently taken on new importance. Private and government organizations are developing programs to enhance the school readiness of all young children, especially children from economically disadvantaged homes and communities and children with special needs. Well-planned and effective assessment can inform teaching and program improvement, and contribute to better outcomes for children. This book affirms that assessments can make crucial contributions to the improvement of children's well-being, but only if they are well designed, implemented effectively, developed in the context of systematic planning, and are interpreted and used appropriately. Otherwise, assessment of children and programs can have negative consequences for both. The value of assessments therefore requires fundamental attention to their purpose and the design of the larger systems in which they are used. Early Childhood Assessment addresses these issues by identifying the important outcomes for children from birth to age 5 and the quality and purposes of different techniques and instruments for developmental assessments.

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The debate surrounding testing and accountability in early childhood education continues, but one thing is universally agreed upon: effective observation and assessment of young children's learning are critical to supporting their development. Educators balance what they know about child development with observation and assessment approaches that both inform and improve the curriculum. This foundational resource for all educators of children from birth through third grade explores What observation and assessment are, why to use them, and how Ways to integrate documentation, observation, and assessment into the daily routine Practices that are culturally and linguistically responsive Ways to engage families in observation and assessment processes How to effectively share children's learning with families, administrators, and others Find inspiration to intentionally develop and implement meaningful, developmentally appropriate observation and assessment practices to build responsive, joyful classrooms.

Provides a comprehensive review of the issues involved in assessing children from birth to eight years, with or without disabilities KEY TOPICS: A comprehensive assessment system for birth through age 8; developing family partnerships in assessment; observation as the key method in a system; using basic concepts of measurement; choosing and using the right measure; assessment for planning intervention; conferencing, grading and reporting; building a child study; special issues in infant and toddler assessment, preschool assessment, and the primary grades; a child development chart o typical development; selected early childhood tests to consider for use in educational and child-care settings; test evaluation guidelines; choosing technology and software to support assessment; portfolio template; websites that adder assessment for teachers of young children; assessment bibliography for kindergarten and primary teachers MARKET: For pre-service teachers who want to understand the broad range of assessment issues in early childhood and deliver an effective educational program for all young children from birth through age 8.

Updated to reflect 10 years of evolution in demographics, research, technology, and legislation, the new edition of this bestselling textbook introduces early childhood educators to the fundamentals of six alternative assessment methods.

This book is written for the teacher who wants to understand and deliver an effective educational program for all young children from birth through age 8. Accordingly, it reflects the knowledge base of early childhood and early childhood special education. It provides illustrations of appropriate practice for prospective teachers and discusses current trends for experienced teachers. It approaches assessment as an integral part of the teaching and learning process. Key components of the assessment system include cultural sensitivity,family collaboration, and a vision of inclusionary practice in all early childhood environments-child care and school. Relevant professional standards are addressed throughout. The text is written in nontechnical language with support from the most current research. All "hot topics" are included as well-standards-based and outcomes-based teaching, high-stakes testing, response to intervention (RTI), coping with legislative demands, as well as relevant technology in the assessment process. Features include: Terms to Know, Focus Questions, Reflection Questions, Technology Links, Out-of-Class Activities, Case Vignettes, Activities for Classroom Discussion, and Suggested Further Readings are provided for each chapter. New Voices from the Field feature, which are summaries of conversations between educators in schools/centers and the author. Checklists and rating sheets, portfolio templates, test review guideline, glossary, child development milestone guide, and practical examples throughout the text. New elements to this edition include: Increased attention to English Language Learners and the process of Response to Invervention (RTI). Updated research, websites, and recommended readings for each chapter. New Voices from the Field feature. Expanded discussion of assessment instruments such as, Classroom Assessment Scoring System CLASS(tm), The Ounce Scale(tm), and Work Sampling System(tm) and technology applied to assessment.

Helps teachers to assess children's progress in English, in a way that is appropriate for young learners.