1. Donna Irvin Walden University EDSD 7081-1 Professor Alexson
Serving As Advocates For Families Engaging In The Assessment Process Workshop Presentation
Donna Irvin
Walden University
EDSD
Professor Alexson

2. Introduction
Early Childhood Programs Play an important role in educating young children when children have access to quality care and education they do better in school. All to often educators come across challenges when it comes to meeting the diverse learning needs of young children. In recent years we have seen an increase of families immigrating into the United States schools many of whom are families with limited English. The recent push for educational reform has caused state legislators to change educational polices to make schools more accountable for what they teach. In order for early childhood programs to ensure that young children are prepared for later school years, assessment tools should be integrated into the learning environment.

3. The Importance of Assessments In the Preschool Classroom
Assessments help preschool children reach developmental milestones the following assessments tools should be integrated into the learning environment
Observations
Check-list
Rating scales
Child work portfolios
Standardized test

4. How Teachers can involve families in the assessment process in early childhood classrooms
Teachers should encourage parents to become part of the assessment process teachers can establish two-communication by
Inviting parents to open school week
PTA
Parents Meetings and Workshops

5. How To Communicate Results of Assessments to Parents
In order to ensure Pre-K teachers communicate effectively about a child's assessment it will be important to
Collect accurate work samples
Of children's works
Document child's work and get input from other early childhood professionals who
work with the child

6. Supporting Diversity and Multiculrism
Teachers should use developmentally appropriate best practice when working with dual language learners and children with exceptionalities
Use assessments that are linguistically and age-appropriate
Take a child's culture and language into consideration when assessing the child
Attending Professional Development and Training Workshops

7. References
Education Foundation. Why is Assessment important Deltopia, July 2008
The National Academics of Science Engineering Medicine NAP. Early childhood
Assessments Why What and How (2008)
Why is Assessment Important? Morrison Pearson Allyn Bacon Prentice Hall Education.Com July 2010
Caspe, M., Selzer, A,. Kennedy. J. L., D.E. Lorenzo, C. (2013)
Engaging Families in the Child Assessment Process. Young Children, 68 (3), 8-14