A Socio-Cultural Approach to Monitoring and Assessing Young Children’s Learning Lynn Whiteside Carmel Maloney Lennie Barblett

West Australian Context Kindergarten & Pre-primary are the non- compulsory provision before school and are attached to the compulsory schooling sector Kindergarten & Pre-primary are the non- compulsory provision before school and are attached to the compulsory schooling sector Issues of pushdown curriculum, mismatch between mandated Curriculum Framework (K-year10) and young children’s learning Issues of pushdown curriculum, mismatch between mandated Curriculum Framework (K-year10) and young children’s learning

Background Shift towards dynamic assessment means: Learning occurs during activity through guided participation Learning occurs during activity through guided participation Linking assessment with instruction rather than after the fact Linking assessment with instruction rather than after the fact Focus on process rather than product Focus on process rather than product Critical role of language as a communication tool Critical role of language as a communication tool Participants are seen as active parties within the social activity (Rogoff 1990) Participants are seen as active parties within the social activity (Rogoff 1990) The relationship between participants (teacher as knowledgeable other, children as co-constructors ) The relationship between participants (teacher as knowledgeable other, children as co-constructors ) Research evidence- Effective Provision of Pre-School Education (EPPE), UK Effective Provision of Pre-School Education (EPPE), UK Research into Effective Pedagogy in the Early Years (REPEY), UK Research into Effective Pedagogy in the Early Years (REPEY), UK Best Evidence Synthesis, NZ Best Evidence Synthesis, NZ Marilyn Fleer, Jeffrey Walkley, Australia Marilyn Fleer, Jeffrey Walkley, Australia

Department of Education and Training (DET) The Monitoring and Assessment Tool Early childhood advisory committee Early childhood advisory committee Tool that would compliment effective early childhood teaching and learning Tool that would compliment effective early childhood teaching and learning Uses existing DET resources Uses existing DET resources Emphasises interaction and modelled, shared & independent framework Emphasises interaction and modelled, shared & independent framework Information shared with parent/caregivers and colleagues Information shared with parent/caregivers and colleagues

The Categories Each category has a number of key indicators: Social Emotional Social Emotional Physical Physical Literacy Literacy Numeracy Numeracy Knowledge and Understanding of the World Knowledge and Understanding of the World Creativity Creativity

Tiara’s Learning Journey Teachers: Rhonda Cutri & Leanne Moss Ashdale Primary School PP (5yrs) Modelled Shared Independent

Teacher intent The friendship letter writing experience focused on the following literacy indicators from the profile: Engages in simple printed texts Engages in simple printed texts Demonstrates an understanding of texts read to him or her Demonstrates an understanding of texts read to him or her Names some letters of the alphabet Names some letters of the alphabet Initiates writing or drawing to communicate an idea Initiates writing or drawing to communicate an idea Engages in role play writing, which may include some letters, numerals or a combination of both Engages in role play writing, which may include some letters, numerals or a combination of both Draws meaning from images in visual texts Draws meaning from images in visual texts

Modelled

Shared

Shared

Independent Work Sample

Conclusion Small pilot study- larger study taking place Small pilot study- larger study taking place Developing assessment through a different lens- assessment as a dynamic and situated activity Developing assessment through a different lens- assessment as a dynamic and situated activity Compliments effective early childhood teaching and learning Compliments effective early childhood teaching and learning This K/PP assessment connects teachers: This K/PP assessment connects teachers: with a shared language, with a shared language, a basis for planning, reporting and conversations about children, a basis for planning, reporting and conversations about children, school systems of accountability school systems of accountability