Assessments - The Big Picture

What is assessment?

• The process of collecting information on a child's health, development, and home life

• The process of reviewing data and summarizing the findings

• The process of setting goals and informing curriculum based on observations

• The process of observing, recording, and documenting the work children do and how they do it

Why are assessments important in early care programs?

• To meet the requirements of early care programs

• To receive funding for the program

• To make educational decisions that affect the child and the program

• All of the above

What are the primary steps in the assessment process?

• None of the above

• Assess data, set goals and inform curriculum, observe and collect data

• Set goals and inform curriculum, observe and collect data, assess data

• Observe and collect data, assess data, set goals and inform curriculum

When should observations and data collection occur?

• Once a week

• Once a month

• On a daily basis anywhere children are in care

• Only during specific assessment periods

What are some sources of information for observations and data collection?

• Anecdotal notes, dated development checklists, and dictation

• Photographs of work or interactions, video recordings, and child portfolio work samples

• All of the above

• Standardized tests/assessments

What should observations be free from?

• Objective and emotional wording

• Opinion and emotional wording

• None of the above

• Subjective and emotional wording

What is screening in the assessment process?

• A process of reviewing data and summarizing the findings

• Comparing children to a culturally appropriate standard

• A quickly administered assessment used to identify children who benefit from more in-depth assessment

• Setting goals and informing curriculum based on observations

How are curriculum and assessment related?

• Curriculum influences what is assessed and how

• Curriculum and assessment are unrelated

• None of the above

• Assessment influences the development of curriculum

What should assessments take into consideration?

• A child's approach to learning and home life

• A child's health, development, and home life

• A child's culture, language, and development stage

• A child's health, language, and approach to learning

Why is sharing assessment findings with families or stakeholders valuable?

• To receive feedback on the assessment process

• All of the above

• To involve families and stakeholders in setting future goals

• To meet the requirements of early care programs