When I think of Child Development

"Nothing you do for children is ever wasted."
                                         - Garrison Keillor

As educators we are constantly assisting children to develop and learn to their full potential and our time is never wasted!

I want to thank all my classmates for giving me encouragement through this course.  Best of luck to everyone as their journey continues through the next course. 

Testing for Intelligence

I believe we should still assess children in the middle childhood age on social-emotional skills.  It seems that schools only focus on standardized test that measure reading, math, writing and science skills but not social-emotional.  Yes, we observe and assess social and emotional skills during early childhood because that is when these skills are truly developing but children of all ages still go through changes and are still learning how to regulate their emotions.  Academic skills are very important for children during middle childhood but as educators I believe we should still focus on social-emotional skills because these skills will get children through all types of issues or events in life.

Research shows that Asia is still coming up with ways to assess children and questioning if it is an integral part of the curriculum.  I feel that the US also has had this questioning as well but I am a firm believer that curriculum and assessment are part of each other. 

One thing relating to assessing young children that I think is important is OBSERVATION.  It is not just about quick evaluation or assessments it is important to observe children through out the times in the classroom to truly see their development and learning.

Francis & Taylor. New Directions in Assessment of Young Children in the Asia-Pacific Region. Early    Childhood Development and Care. February, 2011. 181(2).