This document discusses assessment of infants, toddlers, preschoolers, and primary grade students. It describes typical behaviors, characteristics of developmentally appropriate assessment tools, and effective engagement techniques for each age group. For infants and toddlers, it outlines physical, motor, social, and exploratory development. Appropriate assessment tools observe, document, and analyze progress. Engagement techniques include activities, exploration, and play. For preschoolers, it discusses curiosity, independence, social skills, and tantrums. Appropriate tools include natural observations, portfolios, and questionnaires. Engagement supports active play, representation, and planning. For primary grades, it notes security, play, exploration, independence, and socioemotional growth. Appropri

1. Assessment Content
By Catherine Clever

2. Infants and Toddlers ( 1-3)
Typical behavior and learning characteristics
Infants
● Physical Movement ( being
able to sit up or crawl)
● Balance ( being able to
balance their body standing
up)
● Fine and Gross Motor skill
( is the child able to grab
hold of your finger , or
wave. Learning how to
walk)
Toddlers
● Learning to play, speak,
and behave
● Exploring the environment
( fascination with the
world around them)
● Fine and Gross Motor skill
( Such as jumping,
marching and tiptoeing

3. Infants and Toddlers (1-3)
Characteristics of developmentally appropriate assessment tools
● Observing
○ Observing the child’s language, physical
development and social emotional development.)
● Documenting
○ Using a chart , or conference form to track the
progress of the child’s development.
● Analyze/evaluate
○ You review the information that is discovered and
you evaluate if the child needs help or not.
○

4. Infants-Grade school
Characteristics of culturally and linguistically appropriate assessment tools
First being aware of the cultural norms and being sensitive to them.
Establishing a appropriate relationship with the family so teachers are able to
build an understanding to the families values.
Informal assessments are key to assessing students of a cultural and language
needs. Such assessments can and will allow teachers to be able to track their
students ongoing progress and be able to track where they are throughout the
year.
Having certain screenings where you can have a interterper or someone who is
educated in working with diverse students.

5. Infants and Toddlers (1-3)
Effective engagement techniques and approaches
Engaging students in
● Activities ( in infants peek a boo, stacking building blocks,
clapping and shaking bottles, Toddlers playing with
instruments, playing with playdoh.)
● Creative and meaningful exploration ( using the outside
world as their playground)
● play and inquiry ( playing with toys, objects ext.)

6. Preschool
Typical behavior and learning characteristics
● Curious ( curious about their environment such
as touch, feel , smell, and taste)
● Effective functioning (Attention and Memory)
● Keen to independence( learning to do things on
their own and copying what they see others
doing)
● Learning social skills ( learning how to share and
play with others )
● Tantrums

7. Preschool
Characteristics of developmentally appropriate assessment tools
● Natural observations
○ Where teachers study students behavior in certain surroundings. Ex how
do students react in play with other students.
● Portfolios
○ Where teachers collect students artwork to be able to evaluate through
the year.
● Questionnaires
○ Asking students questions that they may answer while playing with
others. ( ex, asking students who is in their family while drawing a
picture. Can they multitask?)

8. Preschool
Effective engagement techniques and approaches
● Supporting students development by engaging them in active play.
○ Include
■ Blocks
■ Books
■ Writing materials
■ Games and manipulative
■ Dramatic play
■ Sand and water tools for science
●
● Planning and reflecting on the students experiences, working on
representing through drawing, writing and dictation.

9. Primary Grades
Typical behavior and learning characteristics
● Primary grade students
○ Find security in rhythm, ritual, and
repetition
○ Learning through play
○ Exploring the world
○ Seeking independence and mastery
○ Growth and physical maturation
○ Social and Emotional development.

10. Primary Grades
Characteristics of developmentally appropriate assessment tools
● Checklists
● Interactive responses
● Teacher observations
● Conferences
● Rubrics
● Portfolios

11. Primary Grades
Effective engagement techniques and approaches
● materials for students to explore and
be engaged in their learning .
○ Construction materials
○ Games
○ Books
○ Writing tools
○ Computers
○ Art media
○ Scientific equipment

12. Resources
Copple, C, & Bredekamp, S (2009). Developmentally Appropriate Practice (3rd ed.). National Association for the
Education of Young Children.
Naeyc. (2019). Observing, documenting, and assessing each child’s development and learning.
https://www.naeyc.org/resources/position-statements/dap/assessing-development
Wortham, S, & Hardin, B (2020). Assessments in early childhood education (8th ed.). pearson.