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1.3: Assessment as a Critical Component of Early Childhood Education and Practice

  • Page ID
    272888
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    Assessment is not separate from teaching but an integral part of it. Effective educators use assessment data to plan, modify, and evaluate instruction (McLachlan et al. 2018). Best practices highlight that assessment should be linked to curriculum goals, ensuring that data collected is directly applicable to instructional decisions (NAEYC 2022; DEC 2014). However, early childhood teachers also have a responsibility to identify potential need for additional support and services, including special education. Furthermore, teachers should use assessment to evaluate their classroom and/or program’s ability to meet the specific program requirements and meet individual and/or program improvement goals and objectives.


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