Melissa Landess

ECE 240
04/29/14
Assignment 3C
What are some ways early childhood educators can practice responsible assessments with
young children?
Some ways that early childhood educators can practice responsible assessments
with young children are making sure that appropriate and developmentally appropriate
practices are being used. By using appropriate assessments according to the childs age
then there is assurance that an early childhood educator is not expecting more than what
is age appropriate for the child, which means the educator is not setting up the child for
failure from the start, they are setting the child up for success.

What are ways assessment tools can be used inappropriately or be considered harmful to
children?
There are many ways an assessment tool can be used inappropriately or can be
harmful to a child. It can happen when an early childhood educator starts using an
assessment tool to label a child, stereotype a child, making assumptions about the child
based off of an assessment, and disregarding the confidentiality of a child, sharing the
childs information with others. Observations are supposed to be anti- bias, information
for the teacher and parents to look back and reflect on and be able to see the childs
growth or lack of.

What are some legal and ethical issues related to assessments?
One ethical and legal issue is funding. According to Berkowicz and Myers (2013)
even though there is proof that early childhood education benefits children later on down
the road with their education, in the last ten years states have been spending less money
on preschools and further more in just the last year there has been the biggest drop to date
so far ( pg. 1 ) . There are standards and expectations being set for children before even
starting kindergarten, where some children that are not enrolled in a preschool program
might be falling into the gaps and falling behind compared to children that are enrolled in
preschool and that are already learning to write their name and learn their colors before
starting kindergarten in public schools. Meaning kindergarten students are expecting to
meet certain assessments yet not all children are starting out on the same playing field if
they have not all attended a preschool.

What are some current educational concerns and controversies related to assessments of
young children?
A current educational concern and controversy is the debate if early childhood
education really beneficial. Politics are always questioning if assessments are truly
needed. Then whenever a politician says they are going to put funding into early
childhood education, it is not all across the board, it is put into the early childhood
education program of their choice such as Head Start.

How might an early educator effectively practice assessment with diverse children (i.e.,
cultural, linguistic, and development differences)?
A teacher should always include and pride themselves on clear and good
communication with the parents of the children in their classroom. Getting to know the
families and be aware of cultural and linguistic differences. Assessments made of
children with different and diverse cultures should allow teachers to make necessary
modifications. Teachers could use different assessment tools. Find a way to allow
children and their families to represent themselves and their culture.

Work Cited
Bentzen, W. R. (2009) . Seeing Young Children: A Guide to Observing and Recording
Behavior (Sixth Edition. ). Clifton Park, NY: Thomson Delmar Learning.
Berkowicz, J., & Myers, A. (2013, April 30). Early- Childhood Education: Policy
Research, and Funding, or Fad?. Retrieved from
http://blogs.edweek.org/edweek/leadership_360/2013/04/early_childhood_educati
on_policy_research_and_funding_or_fad.com
Derman-Sparks, L., & Edwards, J. O. (2010) . Anti-Bias Education for Young Children
and Ourselves. Washington, DC: National Association for the Education of
Young Children.
Gonzalez-Mena, J. (2008) . Diversity in Early Care and Education: Honoring Differences
(5
th
ed.) . New York, NY: The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc.