Comprehensive Assessment System Early Childhood Assessment June 13

Comprehensive Assessment System Early Childhood Assessment June 13, 2012 1

Session Objectives ü Explain the importance of assessment in early childhood education ü Identify best practices for early childhood assessment ü Preview RTTT Early Learning Challenge ü Answer your questions 2

• It is not only possible but critical for early childhood educators to assess their students • It looks different in early childhood classrooms than it does in K-12 3

What makes it different? • Young children come with a variety of experiences. • Early childhood learning is rapid and episodic. • Performance is highly influenced by the emotional state of the child and the conditions of the assessment. • Young children don’t always understand the need to perform well during assessments. 4

Best Practices Assessment of young children should: ü Rely on instruments selected for reliability, validity, and appropriateness ü Be aligned with learning standards ü Address all domains of learning, not just literacy and mathematics. ü Be administered in a familiar environment, by familiar adults 5

Best Practices in Formative Assessment of young children should: ü Be administered over time, using repeated and multiple measures ü Rely on demonstrated performance during real (not contrived) activities ü Be planned – know what you’re looking for ü Be sensitive to children’s motivation, interest, and attention span. 6

8 Domains Social Emotional Language Creativity Approaches to Learning Physical Health & Devel. Literacy Science Mathematics 7

What does it look like? • Point-in-time – Standardized Assessments (Peabody Picture Vocab) – On-demand tasks • Authentic Assessment – Observation – Structured Tasks – Child Work Samples – Parent Information 8

Questions? 9

VIDEO EXAMPLE • As you’re watching, think about the 8 domains • What might an early childhood educator see in the following clips? 10

Jenna (See recorded webinar for video) 11

VIDEO EXAMPLE Morning Routine Working on a Puzzle Pumping the Ball 12

Training & Planning q Teachers need to be trained in how to assess q Assessment must be part of the planning process q Teachers need to be intentional about what they are looking for 13

In Rhode Island… • Assessment is an expected component of our early childhood programs • Young children are taught in many different environments • The goal is to create a comprehensive assessment system in public pre-K programs 14

RTTT Early Learning Challenge • Competitive federal grant • RI one of 9 recipients • $50 million • How will it be used? 15

Kindergarten Entry Assessment ü RI will develop, pilot, train, & implement a K Entry Assessment ü It will be administered by K teachers ü It will provide a baseline/status at entry ü It will NOT be used for K admission 16

Questions? 17

Resources RIDE’s Early Childhood webpage: http: //www. ride. ri. gov/OSCAS/earlychild/ RTTT Early Learning Challenge: http: //www 2. ed. gov/programs/racetothetopearlylearningchallenge/index. html 18

Contact Us Michele Palermo Michele. palermo@ride. ri. gov 222 -8941 Ruth Gallucci Ruth. gallucci@ride. ri. gov 222 -8947 19

Upcoming Webinars Fall 2012 -Formative Assessment PD -Data Use PD -Interim Assessment System 20