Starting with assessing children
When assessing children there is so much to account for. Every child is very different. To understand and be able to evaluate the whole child a teacher must understand their likes and dislikes, academic levels, the physical and intellectual/behavioral obstacles they face as well as the very different environmental conditions each child comes from.
The table found on the following page explains the techniques and strategies one may use to learn about these things as well as pictures of some I have put in place my self.
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What we need to know: |
This includes: |
How we can learn about it: |
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Likes and Dislikes (Personality) |
Activities and groups they are part of, subjects they like, etc…
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- Talking to students in different setting. (Classroom, schoolyard…) - Journal writing - About me unit (poems, pictures, stories…) - brainstorming with students for topics - Show and tell - Observation (an idea box) - Motivation level
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Academic levels |
Reading, writing, verbal, mathematics, comprehension and motor schools |
- Observations* - Assessment (casual and standardized tests) - Self-assessment - Parents, previous teachers, report cards, IEP’s, child care workers…
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Physical Obstacles |
Handicaps, disabilities
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Find out what they are from medical reports, practitioners, parents, previous teachers etc…
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Intellectual and behavioral obstacles |
Learning disabilities, emotional issues, anger issues etc… |
- Observation* - IEP’s, parents, practitioners, child care workers, technicians, resource, previous teachers.
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Environmental conditions |
Home life, bullying, self-confidence/awareness, culture (holidays), values and beliefs, languages spoken at home
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- Observation* - Parents, practitioners, child care workers, technicians, resource, previous teachers - Health info - Student behavior and work |
