Understanding Assessment

This bestselling book is still the best choice for helping early childhood teachers understand the process of assessment and evaluation to benefit young children. With the advent of the No Child Left Behind Act, testing, accountability, and standards are now pervasive throughout early childhood education. Completely revised to address the issues that have been raised by these new policies, the Second Edition features completely new chapters on: assessment of children from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds, addressing the new makeup of today's classroom; assessment of children with special needs, focusing on the relationship among assessment, curriculum, and instruction; and the addition of a helpful glossary of terms and an annotated listing of assessment instruments used in early childhood education.

This clear, no-nonsense book guides current and future teachers through the concepts, tools, methods, and goals of classroom literacy assessment. The expert authors examine the roles of formative, summative, and benchmark assessments; demystify state and national tests and standards; and show how assessment can seamlessly inform instruction. Strategies for evaluating, choosing, and interpreting assessments are discussed, as are ways to communicate data to parents and administrators. User-friendly resources include boxed vignettes from teachers and researchers, practical assessment tips (and traps to avoid), and 12 reproducible planning forms and handouts. Purchasers get access to a Web page where they can download and print the reproducible materials in a convenient 8 1/2" x 11" size.

A ‘one-stop shop’ for assessment for student teachers covering all major assessment types carefully balancing theory with practical case studies and classroom activities.

This is the first title in this new series, which is aimed principally at secondary PGCE and BAEd students and school- and HEI-based tutors. Each book provides a digest of the central issues around a particular topic or issues, grounded in or supported by examples of good practice, with suggestions for further reading, study and investigation. The books are not intended as 'how to' books, but rather as books which will help students and teachers to explore and understand critical theoretical issues in ways that are challenging, that invite critical reappraisals of taken-for-granted practices and perceptions, and that provide appropriate links between theory and practice. Issues related to equal opportunities and special needs are included in each separate volume . There are boxes of questions, 'think abouts' , further reading, and bulleted summary lists for the reader. This book is written specifically for teachers-in-training which will clarify the 'big picture' of monitoring and assessment and makes the crucial distinctions in this large (and still taken-for-granted) field. The authors have written widely on assessment matters and have also worked in various capacities for the QCA (and its former manifestations). They are also engagerd in initial teacher education and so know the level and market extremely well.

An ideal step-by-step reference for instructors who have not had specific training in assessing students with special needs, Understanding Assessment in the Special Education Process helps educators make the most effective use of available assessment options.

Understanding assessment and being able to use it effectively is at the heart of successful primary teaching. Aware of current policy and research, this book looks at the role and purpose of assessment within education, as well as providing detailed practical guidance on the main types of classroom assessment, including formative, summative, formal and informal methods. Real classroom examples and activities illustrate the practical uses, benefits, and limitations of each form of assessment, enabling you to feel confident about implementing these strategies in your own teaching. Coverage includes: The assessment planning cycle Innovative forms of assessment, including portfolios, debates, role play and mind mapping Assessment of learners with diverse needs, including SEN and EAL The use of technology in assessment Engaging children through self-assessment and peer-assessment This is essential reading for all primary initial teacher education courses, including university-based (PGCE, PGDE, BA QTS, BEd), school-based (SCITT, School Direct, Teach First) and employment-based routes into teaching, and beginning teachers. Sue Faragher is Head of Al Basma British School, a large private school in Abu Dhabi.

This book offers students and trainees a thorough guide to clinical assessment. It covers different types of clinical assessment and explores the implications of the alternative views on clients′ needs and treatment. It explores clinical assessment as an ′art and science′ and brings the reader up to date with new requirements placed on therapists in both organisational and clinical practice based settings. In addition to outlining models for clinical assessment, it looks at the use of evidence-based practice in assessments. There are sections on doing assessments within organisations as well as from private practice.

This textbook provides you with all the up-to-date information you need to pass first time, since it focuses systematically on each of the assessment criteria in the unit. As a lecturer / trainer / tutor / assessor / curriculum manager, how do you ensure: 1. that all staff are clear about the type and methods of assessment available and how to adjust them to meet the needs of individual learners? 2. that learners are involved effectively in the assessment process and take responsibility for their own learning? 3. that the role and use of constructive feedback is understood and applied effectively and meets individual learners’ needs? and 4. that staff are fully aware of the requirement to keep records of assessment and its implications for the continued success of the learning provider? This textbook addresses each of these questions, with supporting research as needed, while remaining tightly focused on the unit’s assessment criteria. Whether you are delivering training or lectures to 16-18 year-olds, mature learners, professionals, managers or international students, with a range of learning and assessment needs and barriers to learning, this book will prove useful in preparing you not only for your unit assessment, but also for work in the sector. Most importantly, the book adopts a practical approach, which is supported by evidence and, where relevant, cross-referenced to Ofsted and QAA expectations. It is therefore suitable for those intending to enter teaching and training as well as those already involved in delivering or managing a programme. Understanding Assessment in Education and Training is the third book in the Award in Education and Training series and covers each aspect of the Award in Education and Training (AET) unit of the same name. Like the first two books on Understanding Roles, Responsibilities and Relationships in Education and Training and Understanding and Using Inclusive Teaching and Learning Approaches in Education and Training, this book is mapped directly to each of the learning outcomes and assessment criteria for the unit across all awarding organisations. It provides detailed practical explanation and links to various other resources so that whether you are new to teaching or already in a teaching or related role, there will be a detailed examination of approaches to assessment in education and training. People purchasing this book may find it useful to have a copy of the second book in the series (Understanding and Using Inclusive Teaching and Learning Approaches in Education and Training) as background. Books available in the Award in Education and Training series: 1. Understanding Roles, Responsibilities and Relationships in Education and Training (Book 1) 2. Understanding and Using Inclusive Teaching and Learning Approaches in Education and Training (Book 2) 3. Understanding Assessment in Education and Training (Book 3)