The chapters in this weeks readings were quite interesting. It talks about the child and how we assess them on a daily basis. In chapter two, we saw a child's development through a teachers perspective. Also, there were examples of how the child grew through the years. As teachers, we use assessment tools to help us show parents what we do at the preschool and what we have observed during their time at school. Some things that happen during school may not happen at home or things that happen at home may not happen at school.
From my experience, I know that I have children who show no interest in learning letters at school, yet at home they know their letters and is able to identify and show an interest. Because there is so many things that go on at school, I am sure that a child would not want to be doing things that they do at home everyday. Children often want to play with their friends and do things that they often do not get to do. How it is interpreted is very different. Our job as teachers is to be able to assess children without giving our opinions. Which is why we have standards that help us learn if they are prepared.
In chapter two, it talked about assessments, conferences, and school readiness. How much of it is for the parents? It also gave some good pointers about things to talk about during conferences. I know that when I have conferences with the parents, I have no idea what to say because I am so nervous. Also, I am still very shy and there are things that I know I am not sure about either. But I am thankful that the parents that I work with are very laid back and understanding.
Chapter three talked about how we use assessments and documentations for our curriculums. I know that I for sure use that during my planning. I try to incorporate the children's interests and help them to learn in different ways. I use the documentation tools to help me plan what types of activities to do, if I want to see how the children use their fine motor skills, I may do a drawing activity. Using the assessment tools also help us challenge the children and figure out if the activity age appropriate and if the child is able to understand what you are trying to teach them.
Teachers as researchers is a big topic. Right now, I have a child who has some developmental delays and I know that he has made me more aware of the different types of developmental diagnosis there are. Children are often deemed "ADHD" because they can't sit still, which is why more children are being medicated in this generation. Yet how many of them are really ADHD? I know that I am not ADHD, but yet I can't sit still most of the time and I am always anxious and have anxiety symptoms too. How much of it is just society telling us that something is wrong with us? But yet, what is normal? We stress how much we want each child to show their individuality, yet we deem them something the instant we feel that there is something wrong. As a teacher, I know that I research many things for me to use in the classroom and to help parents. I know that parents often ask what we do at school to help them regulate their child's behavior, however children act differently in different social situations. Being at school, I was always the shy one but at home I was really goofy and often loud.
Monday, February 23, 2015
Wednesday, February 18, 2015
Setting the Stage for Successful Assessment
How many of us actually take the time to listen to children? I feel that people often do not listen to children because they are "children." What they have to say does not matter. But that is completely not true at all. I believe that children who are listened to are the most successful. Those children feel that they are heard and their opinions matter. Children who are constantly ignored will always feel that they should never say what they feel and they will feel insecure about themselves. I actually feel that children have really interesting things to say about many things.
I often have discussions with the children during circle time and when we are doing free play. They talk about many things; from interesting things that are happening at home and using their imagination. We also want children to use their words to voice what they feel to others, but what use is it when the children are not listened to when it comes to voicing their feelings to adults? My focus when working with children is always making sure that they are heard. I always want to make sure that what they have to say is important to me. I never want to make any child feel that I do not care about what they have to say.
We use voice notes and running records as a way to assess children. It is hard to get what they are saying on paper because what they are saying is random and we are often not prepared for what they are about to say. I try to remember what the children say and write it down, luckily I have my phone handy and use app to get all their documents.
My favorite thing about assessing children is that you can see the progress that they make from one period to another. It is easier for me to use pictures because I can always go back to it later on. The hard part about assessing children is how much of it is forced? Sometimes I have to get the children to redo what they were doing so I can get it on camera.
I often have discussions with the children during circle time and when we are doing free play. They talk about many things; from interesting things that are happening at home and using their imagination. We also want children to use their words to voice what they feel to others, but what use is it when the children are not listened to when it comes to voicing their feelings to adults? My focus when working with children is always making sure that they are heard. I always want to make sure that what they have to say is important to me. I never want to make any child feel that I do not care about what they have to say.
We use voice notes and running records as a way to assess children. It is hard to get what they are saying on paper because what they are saying is random and we are often not prepared for what they are about to say. I try to remember what the children say and write it down, luckily I have my phone handy and use app to get all their documents.
My favorite thing about assessing children is that you can see the progress that they make from one period to another. It is easier for me to use pictures because I can always go back to it later on. The hard part about assessing children is how much of it is forced? Sometimes I have to get the children to redo what they were doing so I can get it on camera.
Sunday, February 8, 2015
Observation and Assessments
When and how do we assess?
I think that is a great question. These past few weeks of readings that we have done for this course highlighted doing assessments that were for children who were at risk for developmental delay. For example, Dial and Brigance are used to assess children to help teachers and professionals rate the child if they are developmentally on track or potentially delayed, and it is used to help them find the areas where the child needs focus on and to suggest professional resources to help the child. Many of us said that we hated tests because we would get nervous and forget everything; which I could totally relate to. How do you think a child feels when they are being assessed by an stranger? I know that I am very shy around people I am not familiar with. I am still very shy around the children's parents. I have a hard time trying to make small talk with them because I don't know what to talk about. But I try to do my best in every way possible because I know that having that bond with parents is very important.
Depending on what we mean by assessing a child, it could be many different times and ways that we assess children everyday. For one thing, we assess children everyday to check if they are healthy and for signs of any abuse. When we feel that a child is at risk for potential developmental delay, we use assessments and make observations for the child to have proof for the parents. How much of it is for the benefit of the child? How do you come to approach the fact that their child may be at risk? How do you tell a parent that there may be something wrong with their child?
Observations are a big part of how we assess children because we use them as proof of what we see when we are around the child. However, it is hard to capture everything that they do everyday because you have multiple children to assess for. Also, I think the saying that people act different in different situations. I know first hand that children do not show their true self at school because there is rules and limits that they understand. When I talk to parents, they ask about habits of the child that I have never seen before. I thought that this would make a great point that even with observations, what if we did not catch the child counting ever at school, or even trying to attempt to count. Yet the parent says that the child counts everyday at school. Yet, the parent does not have much say when it comes to school needing evaluations from teachers. This shows that the parent does not have much power when it comes to applying for top schools because some require portfolios or assessments from teachers. If the child does not display it, how would the teacher know? That would make a negative aspect of the child.
I think that is a great question. These past few weeks of readings that we have done for this course highlighted doing assessments that were for children who were at risk for developmental delay. For example, Dial and Brigance are used to assess children to help teachers and professionals rate the child if they are developmentally on track or potentially delayed, and it is used to help them find the areas where the child needs focus on and to suggest professional resources to help the child. Many of us said that we hated tests because we would get nervous and forget everything; which I could totally relate to. How do you think a child feels when they are being assessed by an stranger? I know that I am very shy around people I am not familiar with. I am still very shy around the children's parents. I have a hard time trying to make small talk with them because I don't know what to talk about. But I try to do my best in every way possible because I know that having that bond with parents is very important.
Depending on what we mean by assessing a child, it could be many different times and ways that we assess children everyday. For one thing, we assess children everyday to check if they are healthy and for signs of any abuse. When we feel that a child is at risk for potential developmental delay, we use assessments and make observations for the child to have proof for the parents. How much of it is for the benefit of the child? How do you come to approach the fact that their child may be at risk? How do you tell a parent that there may be something wrong with their child?
Observations are a big part of how we assess children because we use them as proof of what we see when we are around the child. However, it is hard to capture everything that they do everyday because you have multiple children to assess for. Also, I think the saying that people act different in different situations. I know first hand that children do not show their true self at school because there is rules and limits that they understand. When I talk to parents, they ask about habits of the child that I have never seen before. I thought that this would make a great point that even with observations, what if we did not catch the child counting ever at school, or even trying to attempt to count. Yet the parent says that the child counts everyday at school. Yet, the parent does not have much say when it comes to school needing evaluations from teachers. This shows that the parent does not have much power when it comes to applying for top schools because some require portfolios or assessments from teachers. If the child does not display it, how would the teacher know? That would make a negative aspect of the child.
Subscribe to:
Comments (Atom)