ECE 240 - Assessment of Young Children

1. Compare the purpose, value and use of formal and informal observation methods (NAEYC 1c, 3a, 3b, 3c, 4b).
2. Apply understandings of children’s development when interpreting assessment data (NAEYC 1a, 1b, 1c, 2c, 4b, 4c).
3. Demonstrate an understanding of legal and ethical issues of observing and assessing young children (NAEYC 3d, 5b).
4. Compile and apply assessment data (NAEYC 1a, 1b, 2a, 3a, 3b, 3c, 3d).
5. Apply assessment methods and strategies to one’s professional development (NAEYC 4a, 5a, 5b, 5c, 5d).

1. Observation Instruments
   1. Anecdotal 
   2. Checklists and rating scales
   3. Event sampling
   4. Frequency and duration counts
   5. Running records        
   6. Work sampling/portfolios/photographic images
   7. Video and audio taping
2. Assessment
   1. Fundamental principles
      1. Child growth and development, including domains
      2. Key theorists and their ideas
      3. Developmental checklists and milestone charts
   2. Interpretation
   3. Play
   4. Standardized
3. Ethics and Legal Issues 
   1. Biases
   2. No Child Left Behind
   3. Educational plan process
   4. IEP’s and IFSP’s
   5. Standardized testing
4. Using Assessment Data
   1. Individually appropriate practices
   2. Curriculum planning
   3. Environment/setting planning
5. Personal and Professional Applications
   1. Philosophy of early childhood education observation and assessment
   2. Reflective practices
   3. Professional collaboration