Developmentally Appropriate

Practices

                                                                                     

Five Guidelines For Developmentally

Appropriate Practices

1. Creating a Caring Community of Learners

2. Teaching to enhance

development and learning

3. Constructing Appropriate Curriculum

4. Assessing Children’s

Learning and Development

5. Establishing Reciprocal

Relationships with Families

4. Assessing Children’s

Learning and Development

•Assessment is ongoing, strategic, and purposeful.

Assessing Children’s Learning and Development

DAP Example:

Teachers use observational assessment of children’s progress, examination of children’s work samples, and documentation of their development and learning to plan curriculum.

DIP Example:

Children’s progress is measured by how well they conform to rigid expectations and perform on standardized tests.

•Content of assessment reflects progress toward important developmental goals

Assessing Children’s Learning and Development

DAP Example:

Results of assessment are used to improve and individualize instruction.

DIP Example:

Teachers “teach to the test” to ensure higher scores.

•The methods of assessment are appropriate to the age and experiences of young children.

Assessing Children’s Learning and Development

DAP Example:

A child’s progress is reported in comparison to his or her own previous performance, and parents are given general information about how the child compares to age-related expectations.

DIP Example:

Teachers report children’s progress only in letter or numerical grades. Emphasis is placed upon comparing children with each other.

•Assessment allows for individual variation in learners as well as different rates of learning.

Assessing Children’s Learning and Development

DAP Example:

Because children advance through sequential curriculum at different paces, they can progress in all areas as they acquire competence.

DIP Example:

Children repeat a grade or are placed in a special “transition” grade if they have not mastered the expected reading and math skills.

•Decisions are based upon multiple experiences, not just a one time assessment.

Assessing Children’s Learning and Development

DAP Example:

Teachers use a combination of assessment strategies to see where the child is at in a particular skill.

DIP Example:

The child is given one opportunity to perform a certain task or is given one test. Assessment is based upon this one outcome.

•Assessment not only looks at what the child can do alone, but also with assistance.

Assessing Children’s Learning and Development

DAP Example:

Children who fall behind receive individualized support, such as tutoring, personal instruction, focused time on areas of difficulty, and other strategies to accelerate learning progress.

DIP Example:

Teachers do not look at other opportunities to enhance the child’s growth and development. They do not even attempt to discuss outside support from the parents.

Class Activity for Assessing Children’s Development and

Learning

File Folder Games

1. File Folder Game

Pick one of the file folder game packets provided and put together your own

game.