Engaging Families during the assessment process Hello preschool and Kindergarten teachers, Thank you for taking time to join us for this informative presentation in regards to evaluation and assessments. Teachers are constantly observing and evaluation students throughout the school day. As teachers, we don’t just simply look at academic growth but we monitor how our students interact with each other, plays on the playground, and follows directions. As educators we need to observe all of these actions to ensure each child is showing growth physical with fine motor skills, socially with various interactions and understands subject matter by following through with instructions. The goal by the end of this presentation is to ease any uncertainty that students’ families may have when they receive their children assessment results ( Dewey & Mitchell, 2014). Maria Varela EDDD8083 May 11, 2017

Introduction to Kindergarten Why is important to assess students in Kindergarten? How Kindergarten teachers can involve families in the process? How teachers could benefit from the students’ families during the assessment process? Appropriate communication of tests results to students families? How assessment can support diversity among the students and their families?

Why is important to assess students in Kindergarten There are many reasons in why is necessary to assess students in early childhood. Through assessment educators can determine how their students learn and their strength and weaknesses in development ( Bagnato, Goins, Pretti-Frontczak & Neisworth, 2014). These assessments should determine students individual needs and different learning styles. Assessments should bring benefits for students development. Assessments should be tailored to specific purposes, linked to students success at schools (NAEYC, 2003).

How to involve families in the process Educators need to create a partnership relationship with the students families. The assessment process should include student families. It is important for Kindergarten teachers to communicate with their students families in daily basis. Is important for teachers and parents to work as a team in benefit of the children. It is imperative the creation of a team among teachers and students’ families, to build a long-life bonding relationship, and to project one consistent and supportive message to the students' for their school success ( NAEYC, 2003). Kindergarten teachers are responsible to provide students families with data and information leading them to know about their students' progress and assessments. Such as: emails, progress reports, anecdotal notes based on observations, report cards, conferences, and so on.

Information from families Families know their students strengths and weaknesses. Families have additional information that will help teachers to know better their students. Families can provide the teachers with students' cultural background. Families are the source for teachers to know about any students disability or issues.

How to communicate data and issues to the families Kern County Superintendent of Schools (KCSOS) Specifically about special needs, in Kern County Superintendent of Schools (KCSOS) is a great resource for parents with students who are not yet enrolled in a traditional school setting. Although evaluation and assessments will still be administered in order to provide the correct services for each student, parents are able to start assisting young children in working with their disabilities. Some disabilities they work with are children with autism, deaf or hard of hearing, blind or visually impaired, physical, emotional and learning disabilities. KCSOS services students from birth to 12th grade. This is a great resource for any parent but one of the few offered to parents with children not yet of school age yet. From their website you can review upcoming events, what is currently being taught in classrooms and what is to come, along with look over school curriculum. Although a state resource, the location is very close your current county, yet another reason why it’s an excellent resource. They do also provide resources for teachers and educators as well. However, you must enter a password to access the resources.

How to communicate data and issues to families Open communication with parents is imperative Create facts and anecdotal notes to support teachers observation Invite families to join the school communities Establish an open door policy where families feel part of their children learning and assessment processes Explain results in an easy, respectful, and objective way (when learning issues or assessment results in general are presented to parents, it could be a sensitive moment) Ensure that assessments are to benefit the students’ development, behavior, and learning skills ( Caspe, et. Al.,2013).

Addressing diversity Teachers should administer assessments in languages that each individual student can understand The results need to be communicated to the students families in a language they understand as well Home visits, phone calls prior the meeting to discuss the results, are beneficial for a smooth understanding of the assessment process

references Bagnato, S. J., Goins, D.D., Pretti-Frontczak, K., & Neisworth, J. T. (2014) Authentic assessment as “best practice” for early childhood intervention: National Consumer Social Validity Report. Topics in Early Childhood Special Education, 34(2), 116-127 :Caspe, M., Seltzer, A., Kennedy, J.L., Capplo, M., & DeLorenzo, C. (2013). Engaging families in the child assessment process. Young Children, 68(3), 8-14 Dewey, E., & Mitchell. E. (2014). Engaging with schools: National family resource centers. Reclaiming Children and Youth, 23(2), 31-34

References National Association for the Education of Young Children(NAEYC). (2003). Early childhood curriculum, assessment, and program evaluation. Retrieved from https://www.naeyc.org