1 Assessing Young Children in Inclusive Settings: The Blended Practices Approach Jennifer Grisham-Brown, Ed.D University of Kentucky Implications for Providers

Assessment Scope & Sequence Activities & Instruction Progress Monitoring Collaborative Partnerships Leadership Plan Professional Development Data-Driven Decision Making A Curriculum Framework – Linking assessment and intervention

Assessment Scope & Sequence Activities & Instruction Progress Monitoring Collaborative Partnerships Leadership Plan Professional Development Data-Driven Decision Making EMPHASIS Assessment

Assessment Developmental and Content Areas Family Resources, Priorities, Concerns Interests and Preference s Baseline Authent ic Guid e Comprehens ive

5 Determine what to teach, how to teach, and how to evaluate instruction using authentic assessment strategies

Tell me…. Why do you presently “do” assessment? What strategies do you use?

Purposes of Assessment Assessments can be used for: Identifying concerns that may require focused intervention for individual children; Making decisions about teaching and learning;Making decisions about teaching and learning; and Helping programs improve their education and developmental interventions

Why Conduct Programmatic Assessments? To gather relevant information about a child’s level of functioning across settings, time, materials and people To develop meaningful individualized plans To plan curriculum/instruction To make better instructional decisions

Methods for Gathering Assessment Information Interview –Structured –Unstructured Observation –Anecdotal records –Running records –Category Sampling –Language Sample –Use of Curriculum-Based assessments tools Work samples/artifacts

Professional Organizations  Division for Early Childhood The Office of Head Start National Association for the Education of Young Children

11 DEC Assessment Practice Example A24. Professionals assess not only immediate mastery of a skill, but also whether the child can demonstrate the skill consistently across other settings and with other people. The team assesses the child’s ability to walk in the classroom, on the playground, to and from the car….. and on the grass…..

Administer following recommended practices (Bagnato, Neisworth, & Pretti-Frontczak, 2010) 1.ACCEPTABILITY – Social worth & detection 2.AUTHENTICITY – Natural methods & contexts 3.COLLABORATION – Parent-professional teamwork 4.EVIDENCE – Disability design/evidence-base 5.MULTI-FACTORS – Synthesis of ecological data 6.SENSITIVITY – Fine content/measurement gradations 7.UNIVERSALITY – Equitable design/special accommodations 8.UTILITY – Usefulness for instruction

Summary of Recommended Practices 1) assessment should be ongoing and closely related to curriculum development and program planning; 2) assessment should cover all relevant domains, measure developmentally appropriate skills, learning strategies, and learning styles, and be conducted in natural, authentic situations; 3) assessment should result in information that is useful in planning children’s experiences and making decisions; and 4) assessment should use multiple approaches and should involve multiple informants.

Steps 1.Gather information from families 2.Plan observations 3.Conduct observations in familiar settings 4.Document observations

Step 1: Gather Information from Families Roles –Consumer –Informant –Team member –Advocate Unstructured –Example: Routines-based interview Structured –Example: Reach for the Stars Chapter 3

16 Example of Unstructured Approaches The Routines-Based Interview (RBI) Prepare families to report on routines Family reports on their routines Interviewer reviews concerns and strength areas Family selects outcomes Family puts outcomes into priority order McWilliam 2001

17 Effective Communication Strategies Ask for use not meaning (give me an example, vs. what do you mean) Open ended vs. dichotomous Restate vs. paraphrase or interpret Summarize Single question at a time Avoid leading questions Avoid “why” questions

18 Open-Ended Questioning TopicClosed-endedOpen-ended Self-Help Does your child bathe himself? Please tell me how your child is involved with bath time? Literacy Does your child interact with you during story time? Numeracy Does your child know how to count?

19 Reach for the Star’s Maps Assessment –Images for the Future –Gifts and Contributions –What Works/What Doesn’t Work –All About Me Scope and Sequence –Skills I want to Learn –My Education Plan Haynes and Grisham-Brown 2011

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Step 2: Plan Observations Page 175

Assessment activities Option 1 –Use existing classroom or home based activity/ routine –Outline activity/routine into steps –Consider what you want children to learn or gain from engaging in the activity/routine –Align the activity to assessment items –Create document to record for one or more children –Identify materials Option 2 –Consider assessment items –Choose to create an activity addressing one or more areas –Create an activity that is engaging for children and that will elicit assessment items –Outline activity into steps and align with items –Create a document to record scores/notes for one or more children –Identify materials that will create opportunities to assess the items 23

Step 3: Conduct Observations Functional/Generative skills – High quality curriculum based assessment –Frequency –Accuracy –Duration –Latency –Endurance 25

26 Frequency: Number of Times/How Often Number of times a child initiates Number of time child manipulates Number of times a child is successful Number of times a child participates On each occasion Each morning Daily During most structured activities

27 Accuracy: How Well/How Intended Independently Recognizably Correctly Quickly Intelligibly Functionally Purposively Precisely Number correct Number of steps completed 80% of trials

28 Latency: Length of Time to Respond Time between direction and child response Time between cue and child response Time between request and child response Time between high emotional response and child regaining composure to a more neutral response Within the allotted time Within the given time Within a reasonable time

29 Duration: How Long Behavior Lasts How long a child participates How long a child cries How long a child works How long a child plays near peers Across the majority of the school day Throughout supper While at Target As long as expected As long as others

30 Endurance: How Many Times Behaviors is Repeated Takes 10 steps Communicates for 2 or more exchanges Counts 10 objects Remains seated for 3 minutes With persistence or perseverance By overcoming challenges and increased difficulty During most of the activity or event

Characteristics of High Quality Curriculum Based Assessments Technical adequacy Functional goals Multiple domains Diversity of learners (age and ability) Yields quantitative AND qualitative information Multiple methods Family involvement 31

Examples Assessment and Evaluation Programming System Work Sampling System Creative Curriculum Child Observation Record Brigance Hawaii Early Learning Profile Learning Accomplishment Profile 3 Transdisciplinary Play Based Assessment

Step 4: Document Observations CBA scoring protocol Assessment activity protocol Written descriptions (e.g., anecdotal notes) Permanent products Counts and tallies 33