curriculum framework for early intervention services: assessment

Curriculum Framework in Early Intervention Services:

i . Assessment Michelle Gatmaitan September 1, 2010 Accessing the General Curriculum 9/1/10 Curriculum Framework in Early Intervention Services

How do we define assessment in early childhood?:

How do we define assessment in early childhood? Accessing the General Curriculum 9/1/10 The process of “ gathering information for the purposes of making decisions ” (Early Childhood Research Institute on Measuring Growth and Development, 1998, p. 2) “A flexible, collaborative decision-making process in which teams of parents and professionals repeatedly revise their judgments and reach consensus about the changing developmental, educational, medical, and mental health service needs of young children and their families ” (Bagnato & Neisworth, 1991, p. xi)

Goals of Assessment:

Goals of Assessment Accessing the General Curriculum 9/1/10 DEC Recommended Practices “Gatekeeping” Formative evaluation Summative evaluation (Neisworth & Bagnato, 2005) NAEYC Developmentally Appropriate Practices Monitor children’s development and learning Guide planning and decision-making Identify children who may benefit from special services or supports Report and communicate with others, including families (Copple & Bredekamp, 2009)

Best Practices in Assessment:

Best Practices in Assessment Accessing the General Curriculum 9/1/10 NAEYC DEC Connected to specific, beneficial purposes Utility Culturally and linguistically responsive Acceptability Tied to children’s daily activities Authenticity Inclusive of families Collaboration Valid Convergence Ethical Equity Developmentally appropriate Sensitivity Supported by professional development Congruence (Copple & Bredekamp, 2009) (Neisworth & Bagnato, 2005) How do we apply these practices when we engage in assessment with families of infants and toddlers?

Best Practices in Assessment:

Best Practices in Assessment Five statements from DEC: Professionals and families collaborate in planning and implementing assessment. Assessment is individualized and appropriate for the child and family. Assessment provides useful information for intervention. Professionals share information in respectful and useful ways. Professionals meet legal and procedural requirements and Recommended Practices guidelines. (Neisworth & Bagnato, 2005, pp. 49-50)

What makes Assessment different in early intervention services?:

What makes Assessment different in early intervention services? Accessing the General Curriculum 9/1/10 Assessment

How do we implement assessment for infants/toddlers and their families?:

How do we implement assessment for infants/toddlers and their families? Accessing the General Curriculum 9/1/10 Curriculum-based assessment for child E.g. AEPS Scales/checklists E.g. Family Quality of Life Scale (Beach Center on Disability, University of Kansas, 2003) Semi-structured family interview E.g. Routines-Based Interview (RBI; McWilliam & Scott, 2001; McWilliam, Casey, & Sims, 2009; McWilliam, 2010 a , McWilliam, 2010 b )

How do we implement assessment for infants/toddlers and their families?:

How do we implement assessment for infants/toddlers and their families? Beach Center on Disability, University of Kansas http:// www.beachcenter.org/families/family_research_toolkit.aspx

How do we implement assessment for infants/toddlers and their families?:

How do we implement assessment for infants/toddlers and their families? Sample routine from the Routines-Based Interview

How do we evaluate our Assessment practices with infants/toddlers and families?:

How do we evaluate our Assessment practices with infants/toddlers and families? Accessing the General Curriculum 9/1/10 Is the assessment authentic? Is the family involved in assessment? Does it give us useful information about the child’s development AND the family’s resources, concerns, priorities, and needs? Does it inform our instruction to meet the needs of the child and family? Does it lead to functional outcome statements and strategies on the child’s Individualized Family Service Plan (IFSP)?

Thoughts on Assessment in EI?:

Please add them to the wiki in Week 2. Thoughts on Assessment in EI?

References:

References Accessing the General Curriculum 9/1/10 Bagnato, S.J., & Neisworth, J.T. (1991). Assessment for early intervention: Best practices for professionals. New York: Guilford. Bredekamp, S. (1987). Developmentally appropriate practice in early childhood programs serving children from birth through age 8 . Washington, DC: National Association for the Education of Young Children Copple, C., & Bredekamp, S. (2009). Developmentally appropriate practice in early childhood programs serving children from birth through age 8 (3 rd Ed.). Washington, DC: National Association for the Education of Young Children. Early Childhood Research Institute on Measuring Growth and Development (1998). Theoretical foundations of the Early Childhood Research Institute on Measuring Growth and Development: An early childhood problem-solving model (Vol. 6). Minneapolis: University of Minnesota.

References:

References Accessing the General Curriculum 9/1/10 McWilliam, R.A. (2010 a ). Assessing families’ needs with the routines-based interview. In R.A. McWilliam (Ed.), Working with families of young children with special needs ( pp. 27-59). New York: Guilford. McWilliam, R.A. (2010 b ). The routines-based interview. In R.A. McWilliam, Routines-based early intervention (pp. 67-92). Baltimore: Brookes. McWilliam, R.A., & Scott, S. (2001). A support approach to early intervention: A three-part framework. Infants and Young Children, 13 (4), 55-62. McWilliam, R.A., Casey, A.M., & Sims, J. (2009). The Routines-Based Interview: A method for gathering information and assessing needs. Infants and Young Children, 22 (3), 224-233. Neisworth, J.T., & Bagnato, S.J. (2005). Recommended practices: Assessment. In S. Sandall, M.L., B.J. Smith, & M.E. McLean (Eds.), DEC recommended practices: A comprehensive guide for practical application in early intervention/early childhood special education. Missoula, MT: Division for Early Childhood.