Testing for Intelligence?
In my opinion the type of things that should be assessed are social skills, communication skills, physical skills, and interlectual skills. I don't really think it's fair to assess a child solely on thier intelligence. Basically children develop at different stages and are not all at the same level . In a asay it is good to know how they are processing and after observation the observer can suggest things that will help the child improve development. Also I don't think preschool age children should be assessed for intelligence. They should be assessed while in the classroom performing different activities. Some children do better alone while others flourish in a crowd, and so each child should be assessed based on his/her individual charecteristics.
Testing for Intelligence in Germany
I researched the mainstream assessment systems in Germany. In Germany shildren performance at kindergarten is not assessed, teaching does not take place in the same sense of lessons at school. The educational staff monitors children development and informs parents of thier child's progressand of any problems he or she may experience. The assessment in Germany is designed for children ages 6-12 years of age. It is criterrior based and assesses knowledge and skills in three areas: (a) cognitive, (b) behavioral, and (c) effectiveness ( Stone, 2010). The parent information gives description of the child's social skills in home and community settings. The teachers information gives a description of social skills in the school setting. The information from the sources should be interpreted in terms of the child's stregnths and weaknesses. The children are usually assessed in conversation, social understanding, role play, and social motivation activities.
Stone, W. (2010) Triad Skill Assessment. Retrieved from http://kc.vanderbilt.edu/kennedy_files/TSSAManual_102010.pdf
Snow, K. (2003–2009). Redefining disability. Retrieved from http://www.disabilityisnatural.com/images/PDF/redefindis.pdf
I concur with most of your response however, if we looked at assessing children and your statement which is true that all children develop at different rates than where is the accountability that children are learning and progressing. Children are not acessed formally until age 8 and in the third grade for the no child left behind act. I am on the fence though about preschool assessments. In the Headstart program children are assessed before they enter to see if they are at-risk and eligible for the program. In the time they are accepted we are required to assess them 3 times a year and conference with their parents 4 times on areas of growth in all areas. Because it is not a standarized assessment I still beleive it the federal goverments way of assessing the program and making sure we are meeting the needs of children.
ReplyDeleteI agree that we should assess on more than intellect. Preschoolers need to be assessed so that we can catch any possable problems with their development.
ReplyDeleteI do think we need to re-evaluate our assesment with our school aged children. Standarized testing is not effective and there needs to be a new system put in place. I can remember being in school and hating those test, by the end of the test, because I really had no understanding of the importnance, I would begin to put anything just to be finished. Thank god, it had no affect on me, but it could of.
I agree that children do develop at different rates, and that there are learning environments that suit some children better than others. I also believe however that assessing children at an early age will help uncover developmental deficiencies so that the necessary care and treatment can be administered.
ReplyDeleteI agree with you on aboutchildren learns in all kinds of ways.Some children learn quicker and some learn slower than others. I think that we should re-evaluate our children to make sure that children understand. That give you the change to help the child that need help in that area. I feel sorry about the children that are left behind in the classroom because the teachers have to keep moving on with the lesson to make sure they cover everything they need to know for the state.
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