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Children engage in many different classroom activities during the day
as they paint, build a block structure, or talk with their friends.
Teachers gain valuable information simply by recording and evaluating
their observations of what children are doing rather than what they cannot
do. The Work Sampling System (WSS) and the Ounce
Scale serve as observational assessment tools for sharing information
with parents. This builds a foundation of trust between home and school.
Work Sampling System
WSS is a comprehensive means of monitoring preschool children's social,
emotional, physical, and academic progress. It consists of three interrelated
elements:
- a Developmental Checklist that allows teachers to rate the performance of each child
- a Portfolio that is a collection of the child's work
- a Summary Report to Parents that is the basis for discussion at home visits and conferences.
The WSS evaluation process is designed to provide meaningful feedback
to teachers and families so children's needs can be met and realistic
goals can be set. See a Work Sampling
Outcomes Report.
Ounce Scale
The Ounce Scale provides more than a snapshot of the specific skills
infants and toddlers possess. It gives a comprehensive picture of the
whole child over time which teachers record in an Observation Record
shared with families at home visits and conferences.
The assessment acknowledges the critical role families play in the lives
of infants and toddlers by making families an important partner in the
assessment process. The Family Album provides a unique scrapbook for
families to collect their observations, photos, and mementos of their
child's growth and development. It is filled with suggestions and activities
to enhance development and parent-child relationships.
