Observation and assessment methods and models

Compare observation documentation and assessment approaches for children birth to age 8.
Scenario
As a lead teacher in your program you see assessment as essential to supporting children’s development and
informing your instructional practice. One of your professional goals this year is to compare observation
documentation and assessment approaches to improve the alignment with the age of the child, desired data,
and program requirements.
You plan on providing an example of your intentional selection, rationale, and reflection of assessment
methods and models during your upcoming teaching evaluation with your administrator.
Create a reflection document of your selection, use, rationale, and reflection that includes the following:
Part One: Child & Assessment Method/Model
Describes who you will be observing and the setting.
Identifies the child’s age (birth to age 8) and any pertinent background information of the child.
Explains the setting including the program type, demographics, and child to teacher ratio.
Identifies one selected method/model from each of the following categories (for a total of 3) to use during your
observation and assessment:
Screening Instruments:
BRIGANCE Inventory of Early Development (3 to 5 years old)
Ages and Stages Questionnaire (ASQ)
Learning Accomplishment Profile-3 (LAP-3)
Screening Instrument of your choice (please provide a link and an example of your screening instrument if
choosing this option).
Assessment Instruments:
High/Scope Child Observation Record
Teaching Strategies Gold
Work Sampling
Assessment instrument of your choice (please provide a link or example to your assessment if choosing this
option)
Observation Method:
Narrative (Running) Record
Anecdotal Record – Individual Child Focused OR Skill Focused
Checklist
Describes each of the three selected assessment methods/models.
Explains the rationale for why you selected each method or model and how each selection best fit
(developmentally appropriate) the child you described or viewed in the video.
Part Two: Observation & Assessment
Utilizes the three selected assessment methods/models during the observation of the child for 1 hour. The
observation should be detailed and confidentiality must be maintained.
If you do not have access or permission to use the screening instruments and observation methods with a
child, you can choose to watch the following video Play and Learning at School: Five Year Olds. Be sure to
note you have chosen this option in your deliverable.
Describes what you learned (data) about the child by using each selected method/model.
Part Three: Evaluation Rationale
Compares the selected assessment methods/models based on the data each provided.
Identifies how the data collected was similar.
Identifies how the data collected was different.
Explanation of how the data generated from the instruments/methods can be used to inform teaching practices
to support the child’s development and learning