Identifying Strengths through Assessments

Assessing pre-school age children will support creating individualized plans for each child.  In an environment that is nurturing and safe, teachers can use observations, work sampling, discussions with child, and family interviews to gain information on the development of the child cognitively, socially and physically.  Through these techniques, the teacher can identify the strengths of the child and potentially use the strengths to reach the identified developmental goals that are in line with the early learning standards.  Taking a holistic approach means assessing all three domains of the child, cognitive, physical and social.  The interplay of all three developmental domains that happen during the development of the child constitutes the need to assess the whole child.  Assessing children with this holistic approach also provides the teacher an opportunity to know cherished details about the child that will support an emotional bond.  When teacher and child have this close connection, the child’s development is supported to reach his/her full potential.

I learned about examinations in Singapore when I found the video titled, “When Children Learn, Nations Prosper”  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fn2I90km_-8.  The video started by describing the devastated economy in the very small country of Singapore and how the educational system supported a new generation to create an economy that now produces wealth.  Interviews with teachers talk about creating students who are “enthusiastic about life”, who want to build character and attitude to sustain a job. 

In an article titled, Assessment Around the World, I learned more about examinations in Singaport.  Students are tested to determine “student placement in the education system and access to elite academic programs."   The results of these test scores are not a reflection on the teacher.  Singapore students are under enormous pressure to score well on all exams as these scores play a major role in the child’s future.  This examination system also demands the students to memorize large amounts of materials.

Both the video and article are wonderful resources to have and I anticipate I will be using them quite often in my career.

Rotberg, I. C. (2006). Assessment around the World. Educational Leadership, 64(3), 58-63. Retrieved from EBSCOhost.