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6: Using Documentation and Assessment to Communicate with Families

  • Page ID
    220309
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    • 6.1: Introduction
      This page emphasizes effective communication between teachers and families regarding children's learning, focusing on respect and reassurance. It underscores the need to view academic progress as part of overall development and discusses the use of observation, documentation, and assessment as intentional teaching tools to enhance quality learning experiences for children and families.
    • 6.2: Documentation Boards - Not Just for Displaying Art
      This page discusses the importance of visual displays in classrooms, such as posters and documentation boards, which emphasize learning through play. While parents often seek tangible proof of learning, documentation boards highlight a child's milestones and progress through play activities by including work samples and developmental goals. Portfolios serve as a complement by storing individual work and tracking development over time.
    • 6.3: Assessing Children’s Development
      This page outlines the role of assessment in early childhood education, emphasizing its systematic approach to understanding children's competencies through various types of evaluations, including screening and summative assessments. These assessments inform instruction and curriculum planning, enhance accountability, and foster collaboration between teachers and families.
    • 6.4: Family Conferences
      This page emphasizes the significance of parent-teacher conferences in creating partnerships that support children's development. It outlines strategies for effective meetings, such as flexible scheduling, preparation, clear communication, and engagement with parents about their child's learning. It advises on managing challenging situations professionally and stresses the importance of documenting meetings and maintaining ongoing communication.


    This page titled 6: Using Documentation and Assessment to Communicate with Families is shared under a CC BY license and was authored, remixed, and/or curated by Gina Peterson and Emily Elam via source content that was edited to the style and standards of the LibreTexts platform.