Blog Entery # 6

Blog Entry # 2

            After reading the four articles on assessment of young children I have come realize that assessment in early childhood setting is a growing and profitable business. Early childhood programs have expanded to accommodate children from six weeks to five years of age throughout the United States. Early head start programs are funded by government dollars and in order for those programs to stay in business assessment data on all the children developmental and educational growth must be documented and submitted to their funding agency. In addition, early childhood programs provided services to culturally diverse and low income families.

            The information stated above presents two major questions for me in regards to assessment data. The first question would be are funding agencies being given accurate assessment data on the children in government funded head start programs? Or are head start programs providing the proper assessment data to keep the government funding coming in? Those are the type of questions that make me question the quality of some head start program assessment data. If this is the case in some heard start programs, then what are ways to combat inaccurate assessment data? One answer could be to take away the threat of being closed down for low assessment data, instead be given the chance to assess what’s wrong in the program.  Make the proper changes to be come in compliance with government agencies.       

            Another question that I have in regards to assessment data in early childhood classrooms: Is how can children from culturally diverse and low income families being assessed accurately, if the assessment information is based upon a white middle class informational format? These are some of the disadvantages of assessment data in early childhood classrooms across America. For example children from low income families would call a picture of a sofa a couch not a sofa. The word sofa would be the example word stated on an assessment form not couch.

            Personally I feel that even with the disadvantages stated in this paper evaluation of early childhood classrooms are important and needed. Changes need to be put in place to combat those disadvantages to provide a better overall review of early childhood measurements in classrooms throughout the United States.

    

           

                                                                       Cited Reference

Wortham, S.C. "Assessing Young Children." Pearson Allyn Bacon Pretice Hall Dec. (2001). google scholar. Web. 16 Mar. 2012. <http://www.education.com/print/understanding-assessment-infancy -early/>.

 Grace, Dr. Cathy. "Assessing Young Children." Dec. (2001). google scholar. Web. 16 Mar2012. <http://www.pbs.org/teachers/earlychildhood/articles/assessing html>.