The Value of Assessments

I had limited experiences with assessments during the years I worked as a preschool teacher. I learned a great deal about assessments with young children when I was hired by MEO Head Start. I started as the Education Specialist, providing support and resources for Head Start teachers. I wrote policies (known to the Head Start world as Program Service Area Plans) connected to doing assessments. This essential piece of data collecting is an important part of Head Start. Assessment is included in the Head Start Performance Standards, which is the criteria used to measure service delivery within programs.
In reading the Decker text, I am most familiar with the Creative Curriculum Developmental Continuum and Work Sampling System (Portfolio). MEO Head Start incorporates both assessment systems and each is valuable in meeting performance standard requirements.
The Creative Curriculum is the curriculum model practiced in my program. Parents have an opportunity to review different options of curriculum models and have chosen the Creative Curriculum to be implemented. I appreciate many factors about the Creative Curriculum Developmental Continuum. One of the forms used for parent/teacher conferences include opportunities to inquire about observations and goal setting. Parents are invited to offer observations made at home regarding their child. Parents are also invited to provide input in designing an individual developmental plan for their child. For many parents, this process can be a challenging task. I encourage teachers to utilize this process and use the time to offer information on child development. On numerous occasions, parents will offer suggestions like: I want my child to read. The teacher can use this time to share information with parents on the process of recognizing letters, how reading aloud can support this plan, and what questions to ask when reading to their child to generate vocabulary and cognitive skills. The teacher can offer a list of books that young children enjoy based on their predictability, which encourage children to "read along" with the reader.
I believe that the portfolio (work sampling system) provides tangible evidence that reflect growth and development in a visual way. This is a perfect way to connect understanding of process with parents. Most options of assessment tools are provided in written form. This can be intimidating for parents, causing a sense of mystery to pose the question "what does all this really mean?". Portfolio assessments provide a wide variety of samples that include photos, artifacts of authentic experiences of the children, and documentation captured by teachers within the learning environment.
The Decker text provides a wide range of various assessment tools for young children. When I think about assessments for young children, I value the process as a means of collecting data to plan. Assessments provide an opportunity to teachers to analyze data to create meaningful experiences for young children. Additional to this, programs can use assessment in planning for staff development. I enjoyed reading the report "The Quality of Assessment in Early Childhood Education" of November 2007. The Education Review Office (ERO) used the data collected to make program improvements. In my role as a program administrator, I utilize the data by reviewing center reports separately to determine program strengths. The information collected reflects fifteen different locations throughout MEO Head Start. In an effort to make plans for staff development, for professional development, and for program improvements, it's critical to consider all evidence available to make good decisions.
I believe that programs have the potential to evolve and change to meet the needs of our children, our families, our staff, and our communities. This is my goal as a director. While striving to create an optimal space for learning, adults responsible for administrating programs for young children need to consider all data when planning.
Exchange Every Day offered inspiring words of Creativity on November 13, 2009. I found it extremely interesting that blue was identified as a color that increased creativity. Several of our classrooms are painted light blue. This has always been one of my favorite classroom colors because I thought it was so calming. Little did I know that it offers a whole other benefit!! Creativity is one item that requires no evaluation as each person has their own style, originality, and personality. in my opinion, there is no way a teacher can measure a child's creativity - each child is considered highly creative when provided with opportunities to be an individual. As teachers, we need to celebrate creativity by designing spaces that display diversity and expressive art experiences.