I am linking up again with The Applicious Teacher in her An Apple a Day Series! (click on the image).
Since I started teaching I have been struggling with ways to do data collection in an early childhood setting that really was authentic and gave me a good idea of what my students could and could not do.
I have been refining this through out last year and I think I have something I plan on using for next year.
I originally had a note taking system I really liked. This is where I would jot observations down in an direct location that would help me to authentically view my students. Click here for my folded paper anecdotal notes post.
I then tried a portfolio method in which I kept a project they worked on and then had a check list in which I wrote how they did on it (for these kids it was a :) :| or :( ) in a checklist after looking at all of them. This worked great, except I would collect things, put them on a checklist form, and then have to put all that checklist information into the report card at a later time.
Then I realized, having notes was great, but what section on the report card does that go into? How to I make sure I observe each specific learning goal? How do I know I can fill out the report card for each student and not have to have them stand there and "hop on one foot for me, good, now the other." The check list was great, but what learning goal did this assignment address again? Ok this one addressed size order, where is that on the report card again? That is when I came up with my Assessment Binder.
In this binder I keep all my checklist observational assessment forms. Each student has one and they are in alphabetical order. I used tabs made form post it notes for each child's name. I then put an Observational Assessment form, available TpT in each tab. This is all the areas on our report cards/progress reports in a 4 quarter check list form. If I observe a student doing something I do a check mark in that area. That way, at the end of a quarter, I only need to 1:1 assess the things I did not observe "in their natural environment." If they master something in a quarter, I also know that it does not need to be assessed again, and I can clearly see when they mastered it based on when it was checked off (more than once) on a specific quarter.
Some things, you just need to sit down and ask them if they know: Letter names/sounds, number recognition for all numbers, etc. I keep a simple checklist to make sure I get to everyone. In the back, I keep my abc reading chart, colors chart, etc. That I need to show students in a formal assessment. I put this in a clear page protector and mark the results with a dry erase marker so I can use it for each student with out having to waste paper (quarters 2 & 3). I do give each child a copy of their own in the fall and the spring for parents to see progress. Our staff is currently working on rewriting our report card, and then our assessment tool (the tool we use for formal assessment, see image above on right.)
Since all of our learning goals are going to then change (or even change order), for stream lined assessment filling out, I am going to create a new observational assessment form to make sure they are in the same order as the report card/progress report for streamlined completion.
Keep an eye out!
I also plan on doing something similar with my new KINDERGARTEN Math Common Core, Science Next Generation Science Standards, Social Studies State Standards, and the social/emotional areas. As I fit myself into the new position, I will share my creations!
