Discussion: Assessing for Development, Emerging Knowledge, Intervention, and Modifying Based on the Needs of Students

Assessment is one of your most important tools in the learning environment. Assessments guide instruction, help educators communicate milestones to families and the community, identify specific learning needs, and allow us to evaluate our teaching practices. In this Discussion, you will examine assessments and modify them for specific groups of students. You will provide a rationale for these changes and examine your peers’ suggestions for modification and serve as a critical friend by examining and suggesting changes.

Educational terminology at its best can express clearly what good educators can do and should do. Educational terminology at its worst is confusing and subject to misinterpretation. One point of confusion in assessment practice has been the difference between accommodation and modification. As a part of this Discussion, you will explain the differences between accommodations and modifications in the early childhood learning environment and the purpose of each.

To prepare:

· Review the NBPTS Early Childhood Generalist Standards and the Matafwali and Serpell (2014); Ntuli, Nyarambi, and Traore (2014); Petre (2014); and Guss et al. (2013) articles.

· Examine assessments for kindergarten-aged children or children aged 6–8 (primary).

· Then, choose a group different from the one you selected in Module 2.

· Research and list four different assessments that could be used (one for each: formative, summative, informal and formal) and what these are used for (cognitive, emotional, linguistic, physical, and/or social development, emerging content knowledge, intervention, other).

· Review the Mental Measurements Yearbook and verify the information posted on use and validity and reliability or find research discussing this assessment’s use.

· Analyze the strengths and weaknesses of each assessment, the validity and reliability of the formal instrument, and the data collected from these assessments

The work completed as part of the “to prepare” for this Discussion will be required for your Learning Outcomes Project for this program. It should be written up in the same manner as the initial post for Week 3 Discussion.

By Day 7 of Week 5

Post a brief description of the following:

· What these individual assessments are used for (cognitive, emotional, linguistic, physical, and/or social development, intervention, other emerging content knowledge)

· The strengths and weaknesses of each assessment

Then, discuss:

· The validity and reliability of the formal instrument

· The data collected from these assessments

Finally, explain:

· How this information could be used to promote development, as well as guide teaching and learning

· How this information could be shared

· Why and how families could be a part of the assessment process

· How you know these assessments are DAP

· The differences between accommodations and modifications. List ways you could modify these assessments for dual language learners and children with exceptionalities or children with identified disabilities or delays (one modification per assessment, using each group a minimum of one time). Explain how you know these modifications are appropriate.

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