EDE3123

ASSESSMENT IN EARLY
CHILDHOOD

TOPIC 13:
IMPLICATIONS OF SHARING INFORMATION
 OVERVIEW
Implications of Sharing Information

• Children
• Parents
• Colleagues (educators)
• Other stakeholders
SHARING INFORMATION WITH
PARENTS
 INTRODUCTION

Sharing information

With parents,

“The closer the parent is to the education of the

child, the greater the impact on child
development and educational achievement.”

(Fullan in Beaty, 1998, p. 371)

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© LMS SEGi education group
Wednesday, March 11, 2020
 THE PURPOSES OF SHARING
INFORMATION

• Give fuller picture of a child - through portfolio (performance-

based; formative), report cards (summative)

• Get to know the child and his/ her background well and
understand family influence on child’s skills

• Parents are entitled (have the right) to hear what the teachers
have identified in terms of their children’s needs and abilities
and skills.

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© LMS SEGi education group
Wednesday, March 11, 2020
 THE PURPOSES OF SHARING
INFORMATION
• Identify any special needs of a child

• Effective parent-school relationship;

not limited to reporting to parents but
involving them in the process of
information gathering

• Contribute to the child’s trusting

relationship with the teacher

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© LMS SEGi education group
Wednesday, March 11, 2020
 COMMON CONCERNS OF PARENTS
1. How is my child progressing - academically, socially,
physically, emotionally?

2. How is my child’s performance compared to his/ her

classmates?

3. Where does he/ she stand against the developmental

milestone?

4. What are his/ her strengths and weaknesses?

5. His/ her interests?

6. What can be done to help my child?

Last Updated:
© LMS SEGi education group
Wednesday, March 11, 2020
 WAYS OF SHARING INFORMATION WITH
PARENTS
• Parents-teachers meeting

• Parent visits (special appointment)

• Conferences

• Newsletters

• Workshops

• Parents’ involvement (volunteering)

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© LMS SEGi education group
Wednesday, March 11, 2020
 WAYS OF SHARING INFORMATION WITH
PARENTS
On a more personal note:

• Phone calls

• E mails

• Notes to parents

• Informal meeting (e.g. when parents bring or pick up children

to/ from school)

Last Updated:
© LMS SEGi education group
Wednesday, March 11, 2020
 WAYS OF SHARING INFORMATION
WITH PARENTS
Example (note to parent)

Child: …………. Age: ……...

Dear (parent),
It has been noted lately that your child (name) often goes to the book
corner and flips through story books. It seems that she has developed a
keen interest in books. She has been allowed to borrow a few books home
to develop her interest further. We are starting a reading program with
(name). We hope that she continues with her effort as this will definitely
help in acquiring her reading skills.

Note: If you wish to reply to the above comment, please feel free to use the
reverse side of this sheet and return it in the envelope. You may also call
for an appointment with the teacher.

Last Updated:
© LMS SEGi education group
Wednesday, March 11, 2020
 PROCESS OF SHARING INFORMATION

Who?
• Teacher in charge
• Principal

How?
• Not to discuss child with people other than the parents

• Not to discuss child with parents when other parents are

nearby

• Not to discuss child in front of child or other children

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© LMS SEGi education group
Wednesday, March 11, 2020
 PROCESS OF SHARING INFORMATION

How?

• Notify parents of meeting place, day and time

• Is a translator needed?
• Collect relevant materials or supporting documentation
(evidence:
1. be prepared to explain about assessment strategies
2.help parents to make sense of the data or child’s work
3.get parents involved in future assessments and planning and
also in suggesting solutions to any problems.

Last Updated:
© LMS SEGi education group
Wednesday, March 11, 2020
 PROCESS OF SHARING INFORMATION

How?
• Avoid negative evaluation and words such as never, can’t,
behind, hyperactive, problem, slow

• “seems to suggest”, “it appears or looks like”, “not quite ready,”

“it may be” are better than blunt statements

• Be personal in your approach

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© LMS SEGi education group
Wednesday, March 11, 2020
 PROCESS OF SHARING INFORMATION

How?
• Focus on the child, not the program

• Identify any concerns

• Be sensitive to parents’ needs (consider cultural diversity,

family values, children with disabilities)

• Avoid personal topics (e.g. marital, financial, social status)

Last Updated:
© LMS SEGi education group
Wednesday, March 11, 2020
 PARENTS’ ROLES

• Parents to take on the role of an observer at home

• Share and discuss information with teachers (valuable input – but

may be subjective; depends also on the parents’ willingness to
participate)

• Get to know their children better

• Forming ‘partnerships’ between home and school for the benefit

of the children, not just the parents and teachers

• Parents to participate in creating a portfolio for their children

(include items such as scribbles, drawings, photographs,
observation notes, list of favorite books, tape recording of child’s
speeches, story-telling or reading)
Last Updated:
Wednesday, March 11, 2020
© LMS SEGi education group
 TUTORIAL
Based on the child’s and the parent’s characteristics, discuss and do a
role play to report the child’s progress to the parent:

SCENARIO 1
THE CHILD
• Kathy does not always initiate a task. Instead, she relies on the teacher
most of the time, even though she is capable of performing the task. She
is also shy and timid among her friends and does not seem to like to join
in or participate in group activities. Kathy enjoys music and movement
lesson very much.

THE PARENT
• A father from a rural area has no knowledge about
early childhood education. He just sends his child
to school and waits until the end of school year.
Last Updated:
Wednesday, March 11, 2020
 TUTORIAL

SCENARIO 2
THE CHILD
• Patrick is rather clumsy when it comes to ball games. He is not able
to catch a ball thrown to him most of the time. He runs about a lot
and often knocks or bumps into his friends. When it comes to doing
math, he seems to perform much better than his physical abilities.
He can rote count easily compared to his classmates.

THE PARENT
• A mother of a 5-year-old son is very fussy and
tends to blame the teacher if her son fails to do
something.

Last Updated:
© LMS SEGi education group
Wednesday, March 11, 2020
 TUTORIAL

SCENARIO 3
THE CHILD
• The teacher praises Wei’s outgoing personality, which is loved by
all teachers and peers. The teacher is also happy with his
adaptness in fine motor development. However, he seems to be
preoccupied with superhero figures which interferes with his
progress at school. The teacher is also concerned with his limited
skills in controlling his anger.

THE PARENT
• A father of a 5-year-old boy feels that a
kindergarten is only a place to play. He does not
know about his boy’s potentials and talents.

Last Updated:
© LMS SEGi education group
Wednesday, March 11, 2020
SHARING INFORMATION WITH
COLLEAGUES/ SCHOOL/
AUTHORITY
 PURPOSE OF SHARING INFORMATION
WITH COLLEAGUES/ SCHOOL/
AUTHORITY
• An important way of reflection (listening to others and sharing
insights)

• Exchange viewpoints

• Share different approaches to solve problems and ideas for

new lessons/ activities or extending a child’s experience

Last Updated:
© LMS SEGi education group
Wednesday, March 11, 2020
THANK YOU