Spotlight on Young Children: Observation and Assessment

Holly Bohart editor Rossella Procopio editor

Format:Paperback

Publisher:National Association for the Education of Young Children

Published:30th Jul '18

Currently unavailable, and unfortunately no date known when it will be back

Spotlight on Young Children: Observation and Assessment cover

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.

This foundational resource for educators of children from birth to 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; and more.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.

"This is a must-have book for both in-service and preservice teachers. It addresses the continuum of observing and assessing children from birth to grade 3, including approaches for children who are dual language learners. With engaging, easy-to-read articles written by various experts in the field, this text is ideal for college courses and makes the challenging task of formative and summative assessment not only understandable but doable." —Holly Seplocha, Professor of Elementary and Early Childhood Education, William Paterson University 
"This book offers practical strategies and solutions to help teachers of young children embed authentic assessment into daily routines and activities. The considerations for culturally and linguistically appropriate assessment and for children with disabilities, as well as the reflection questions, help professionals apply authentic assessment concepts to the children with whom and the settings in which they work." —Margaret Gillis, Education Researcher, SRI International
"Through a wealth of practical ideas and strategies, a strengths-based approach that includes families, and in-depth discussions of assessment methods, this valuable resource makes high-quality assessment an attainable goal for everyone." —Margo Dichtelmiller, Emeritus Professor, Eastern Michigan University
"The process of assessment, including observation and documentation, is critical in assuring that teaching and learning are unequivocally linked. This collection of articles provides many perspectives and strategies for ongoing, authentic assessment in the early childhood classroom." —Alison Maher, Teacher Education Director, Boulder Journey School

ISBN: 9781938113345

Dimensions: unknown

Weight: unknown

112 pages