Smart School Junior, Hubli, Shantinagar, Hubli

The process of gathering information about the child, analyzing and reviewing the information followed by using this information to plan educational activities is known as the assessment or evaluation of the child. It is used to understand the level at which the child is at academically and what all is he able to learn. This kind of evaluation is crucial for developing a high-quality program in the early childhood of the kid. When the evaluation is conducted, the child is observed thoroughly to gain a deep insight into what he knows and what he can do. The educator can record the growth and development of the child. With this gathered information they can start to plan effective activities for the child which is individualized to each child. This evaluation can further be shared with the parents of the children who can keep track of their child’s progress. They can understand the skills, abilities, and interests of their children in a better manner. They can also plan the kind of learning the child will go through at home. Methods of assessment There are two methods of child assessment: Formal and Informal. Formal methods include the use of questionnaires and standard tests whereas Informal methods include conduction of natural observations, collection of data and work of children for portfolios using the ratings of the teachers and the educators. Both methods are equally effective and can help educators and teachers in developing the assessment quite accurately. Observations:The very basic method of observing the child should be made with minimal or almost no intrusion into the activities of the children. The educators should observe all the skills of development including social/emotional, physical development, intellectual and linguistic on a daily basis. It is important to create a routine out of this since the children tend to act differently on different days and you never know what we might get to observe about them. Portfolios:Portfolios are the end results of observations. A record of the data that is collected of the work that has been produced by children over a period of time is called as their portfolio. This collection is a clear reflection of the child’s progress. The portfolios can help in the final analysis of the growth and development of the child. It can also be a crucial tool in maintaining clear communication about the child between the teachers and the parents. Educator ratings :The ratings given by the educator to the children can be useful in evaluating the cognitive and language abilities of the children. They can also help in understanding their social/emotional development. These ratings can also be linked with other methods of assessment like Standardized testing. Parent ratings:It is important to integrate the parents’ contribution to the evaluation process in order to make it holistic. It also makes the parents more involved in their child’s development process. Parents should be encouraged to observe and listen to their children as much as possible. A child’s behavior outside school is different than that of a controlled environment. These observations will help the educator in detecting and targeting important behaviors and milestones in the child’s development. Standardized Tests:The tests that are developed to fit a set of testing standards are called Standardized tests. They are administered and scored in the prescribed standard manner and they are often used for assessing the child’s performance in a program.