- I think the 'whole child' should be assessed. From the physical aspects to the cognitive aspects. I believe that the whole child should be assessed so that teacher can better benefit the child. If a child is delayed developmentally in any particular way, the teacher can modify activities and materials to better benefit the child.
- School Assessment in China:
School-based assessment, as we know it, does not occur in the People' s Republic of China. Assessment procedures, prilf'lllrily achievement tests, are usedfor placement pur poses in select schools. Some psychological testing is done with young children to detect learning disabilities. Several psychologi- cal tests are available, but theyare not widely used. Research in the areas of intellectual, personality, clinical, and achievemeni assessment is reviewed in this paper. Given the lack of psychological services for schools, the role of teachers in the evaluation process is discussed with respect to educational philosophy in the People' s Republic of China. The impact of recent events in China on the educational system is also discussed.
Another aspect of this is children who are born in China and adopted in Americans families:
The Parent Rating Scale of the Behavior Assessment Scale for Children
(PRS-BASC) was used to examine the behavior of 45 Chinese adoptees. In
all but one case, results from the 9 BASC-PRS scales ranged in the
average, or normal, range. Thus, as a group, no deviations from normal
behavior were revealed. However, the variability of ratings for several
scales--Hyperactivity, Aggression, Conduct Problems, and Attention
Problems--indicated a greater potential for at-risk behavior. Age of
adoption from China was not a significant influence on parents'
perceptions of adoptees' behavior. However, older adoptees were more
likely to be rated hyperactive or aggressive than younger children,
while younger adoptees were more likely to exhibit withdrawal.
Amy,
ReplyDeleteI agree that assessment should be done with caution especially in early childhood. Once children enter elementary school and begin having to take and excel at standardized tests I think that unfortunately the sensitivity of their needs becomes completely disregarded.
I agree that there is a need to find out where children are developmentally, but are standardized test they way to go? I don't believe that they are the best to find how children are learning. When we look at a test that is given to children of different cultures and socioeconomic status is is fairly judging where children are? I once read an article about an inner city school who went to giraffe farm to see the giraffes and when they were asked on a standardized test what animal do you see on a farm they all choose giraffes. Is this correct? To these children the only farm that they had ever come into contact with is the giraffe farm, so to them a giraffe lives on a farm. If we are going to test children then it need to be relevant to each individualize child, other wise we start teaching to the test.
ReplyDeleteI see that they have assessments for the whole child for young children. But how do they assess the child as they progress through the early grades?
ReplyDeleteI definitely agree that testing a child should not be for the purpose of making a life decision for them but it can be great for individualizing instruction.