Candidates,
For this assignment, you will complete a comprehensive observation and assessment as well as prepare a summary of your findings. You may select one child ages 2 years through 5 years.
You will assess this child’s cognitive, physical, and affective domains. Each domain should have a minimum of 10 indicators on one, valid, and reputable instrument and a minimum of 5 indicators on another reliable, valid instrument. In addition, you use the instrument you have created or will create.
A list of some available instruments is included with this assignment information.
The child you select may be a family member or a child in your current classroom.
You will need to make appropriate arrangements with the child’s family as well as teachers. Please note that you must have all necessary permission forms completed in order to observe and assess the child you select.
You will follow all professional and ethical practices for observing and assessing. In addition, you will not interfere with the child’s normal routines or interrupt the child’s daily activities when conducting your observations. You will need to make sure you are accommodating the child and meeting his/her needs.
You will not observe and assess all domains during the same observation. You will want to schedule at least two different observation times and dates. Depending on the child you select, you may need to have multiple times scheduled. Again, you are meeting the needs of the child.
Make sure you select a time of day that is best for the child. (You will want to avoid nap times or times when the child may be distracted). In addition, you will want to avoid times when the child may be ill.
You will want to make sure that at least one of your observation occurs during the child’s play.
Observational Checklists for Young Children:
http://ecdc.syr.edu/wp-content/uploads/Developmental_checklists_Updated2012-1.pdf
Parent/Family Information:
You will create a questionnaire which should be completed by the parent/family member. You questionnaire should contain information which may be of value to your summary. Again, you must follow all ethical guidelines. You will want to know if there are any concerns of the parents, medical problems with the child observed or any information that may help the assessor gain information to support the findings of the developmental checklists. Your questionnaire should contain a parent/family letter from you explaining this assignment. You must include the following on your letter:
Please note any information collected from you and your child is for the sole purposes of the candidate becoming knowledgeable regarding observation and assessment practices. Please note this information should not be considered valid or reliable nor should it be used to determine ability, needs, or strengths of the child and family unit. Any information collected, will be available to you upon request. The candidate appreciates your willingness to allow this practice in order to become a more efficient and knowledgeable early childhood professional.
Written Summary:
The written summary should be professionally and objectively written. The candidate should avoid terms such as “I feel” and/or “I think.” The summary should contain FACTUAL information only and any opinions should be supported by factual information. Please access the following links for sample summaries. The following information should be contained:
Child’s first name / initials only.
Parents’/family members’ name who completed the questionnaire
Date of observations.
Age and birthdate of child.
Child’s gender and overall health.
Names of instruments used to observe and assess.
An introductory paragraph regarding the child’s information as well as demographic information should be included. You may include the child’s family information as well as educational information. In addition, you will need to include demographics of the family unit.
Explain each observation session. Day, time of day, activity and overall demeanor of the child (make sure this is supported by facts).
Next you will summarize the findings of each domain/area. State the instruments as well as the area observed and assessed. Discuss the assessment results and how these compare with typical developing children of the same age/gender. Note any atypical development patterns.
In addition, you should cite any agency that may support the family, child, etc..in any development of the three domains or may assist the family in meeting the needs of the child and/or support the child’s growth and overall development.
You will have an overall, conclusion which explains the child’s overall development regarding the milestones and comparing the developmental stages to typically developing children of the same age and gender. In addition, you will conclude with general information of the family that was shared. Again, you will not conclude with any objective statements.
Sample Case Studies:
http://users.manchester.edu/student/amgallahan/profweb/Case_Study%20Luke.pdf
http://ectacenter.org/~pdfs/knowledgepath/ifspoutcomes-iepgoals/KimCaseStudy-35mos.pdf (use this one to help with parent questions and information for families) This observation is not written in summary style.
RUBRIC
| Criteria: | Needs Improvement (0) | Developing (1) | Proficient (2) |
| Instruments: NCPTS 5c BK 4 | The candidate uses at least one reliable and valid instrument to assess each of the three developmental domains. | The candidate uses at least two different reliable and valid instruments to assess each of the three developmental domains. | The candidate uses at least two different reliable and valid instruments to assess each of the three developmental domains as well as one instrument which has been created by the candidate. |
| Observation Practices: NCPTS 1e BK 4 | The candidate observed and assessed only on one occasion. The candidate followed all ethical and professional guidelines for observing and assessing. | The candidate observed and assessed only on one occasion. The candidate followed all ethical and professional guidelines for observing and assessing. | The candidate observed and assessed more than one occasion. The candidate followed all ethical and professional guidelines for observing and assessing. |
| Summary: NCPTS 4a, 5c BK 1 | The summary does not demonstrate knowledge of the developmental domains and important milestones for each. There is no relational information regarding developmental milestones or /and examples of those observed and assessed. | The summary Demonstrates some knowledge of the developmental domains and important milestones for each. There is relational information regarding developmental milestones and examples of those observed and assessed. | The summary Demonstrates professional and comprehensive knowledge of the developmental domains and important milestones for each. There is relational information regarding developmental milestones and examples of those observed and assessed. |
| Parent questionnaire NCPTS 2e BK 3 | There are only 5 relevant questions on the parent survey and/or the survey contains demographic information only. | There are at least 5 relevant questions on the parent survey. In addition, the survey contains family and child demographic information. | There are more than 7 relevant questions on the parent survey. In addition, the survey contains family and child demographic information. |
| Domains NCPTS 4a, 5c BK 1 | Only one domain is clearly addressed and/or very little information is given regarding all three domains. | Only two domains are clearly addressed and/or very little information is given regarding all three domains. | All domains are clearly addressed and comprehensive information is given regarding all three domains. |
| Community/agency support: NCPTS 2e BK 3 | No agency or community support for the child and/or family is identified | At least one agency or community support for the child and/or family is identified and reasons for this agency are clearly written and supported. | More than one agency or community support for the child and/or family is identified and reasons for these are clearly written and supported. |
| Grammar, spelling, syntax | There are more than six grammatical, spelling, and/or syntax errors. | There are less than six but more than three grammatical, spelling, and/or syntax errors. | There are less than three grammatical, spelling, and/or syntax errors. |
| APA style | There are multiple APA citing errors and/or a “Works Cited” page has been omitted. | There are very few APA citing errors and a “Works Cited” page is included. | There are no APA citing errors and a “Works Cited” page is included. |
| Content and professionalism | Some elements of the summary are omitted and/or the summary is written with a great deal of subjectivity. The content does not reflect professional assessment practices. | No elements of the summary are omitted and the summary is written with very little subjectivity. The content reflects professional assessment practices. | No elements of the summary are omitted and the summary is written with no subjectivity. (It is clearly objective). The content reflects professional assessment practices. |