Evaluation
Sharing Information With Parents/Caregivers
Indications of growth and development are shared with students and
parents/caregivers through a variety of methods. These include
scheduled information sharing sessions, informal visits, assessment
portfolios and report cards. Information sharing sessions and
report cards are elaborated on as follows.
Information Sharing Sessions
Teachers or parents/caregivers could initiate information sharing
sessions. If the atmosphere is positive, these sessions can be one
of the most valuable means of acquiring and conveying information
about the student. When appropriate, involving the child can be
beneficial because it encourages her/him to take responsibility for
learning. These meetings require much preparation if they are to
be meaningful. Some suggestions for organizing a successful
conference include the following.
- Teachers should sit at a table beside the parents/caregivers
rather than across from them. This makes sharing materials more
convenient and generally puts people at ease. Round tables work
best.
- Meetings should start and finish on time. If more discussion
time is required, another session should be arranged.
- Anecdotal records, checklists, student work samples, etc.
should be organized for sharing.
- A notebook should be available for recording pertinent
information that is shared.
- Time could be allotted for students to take their
parents/caregivers on a tour of the classroom. Posters explaining
what children are learning could be provided at each activity
centre.
- Foundational and learning objectives should be sent home with
the report card (if used) prior to the session.
- The report card (if used) should be reviewed by the teacher and
student together prior to the session.
- Students could choose work samples that they would like to show
their parents/caregivers at the session.
- A short videotape of classroom activities could be prepared to
share before the session. Parents/caregivers could be asked to
arrive a few minutes early to view this production.
- Parents/caregivers should be encouraged to express their points
of view.
- Parents/caregivers could be invited to share an experience
and/or bring a sample of what their children have enjoyed doing at
home (e.g., a rock collection, a drawing).
- At a conference early in the school year, parents/caregivers
could be invited to help complete a web of their child's life.
Components could include favourite activities, friends, siblings,
extended family, critical events, etc.
- Students should not be compared with classmates or siblings.
- Parents/caregivers could be invited to visit the classroom to
observe their children prior to the information sharing session.
They could be given observation sheets to guide their observations,
then this experience could be discussed at the meeting. This
experience could be valuable, even if the children do not behave
typically during the visit, because it provides a basis for
meaningful discussion. The form following is an example
of a parent/caregiver observation sheet.
- Materials could be available on how parents/caregivers may help
their children at home (e.g., a list of suitable literature).
- A few minutes for the teachers to relax should be allowed
between each conference.
See example of how an information sharing
session could be summarized.
| Note: To view the above document you need a program like
Acroread that reads .pdf files. |
Report Cards
Although it is quite appropriate for Kindergarten students to be
excluded from receiving formal report cards, many school districts
choose to issue them. This decision is the school district's
responsibility. Suggestions for a suitable report card follow.
- Socio-emotional, physical and intellectual foundational
objectives should be used as criteria for evaluation.
- Numerous, meaningful comments should be stated in positive
terms.
- Simple, concise language should be employed.
- Specific examples of students' behaviour should be included
(e.g., Jordan often offers to water the plants).
- A student's performance shouldn't be compared with others.
- Ways that parents/caregivers can assist at home should be
included, as well as ways that the student is being or will be
assisted at school.
"A Picture of Me" by Molly
| Quotes From Kids: A Dangerous Situation -
During a class discussion on endangered species, the teacher asked
what "endangered" means. Kaylee responded confidently. "If a bull
was in a field and a lion came along, the bull would be in
danger." |
Parent/Caregiver Observation Sheet
Date:____________
Child's Name:_____________________________
Socio-emotional Development
Does your child play well with others?
Does she/he follow rules?
Does she/he appear enthusiastic and interested in activities?
Does she/he put things away?
Physical Development
Does your child take safety precautions?
Does she/he control physical movements?
Is she/he physically active/tired?
Intellectual Development
Does your child explain her/his own actions?
Does she/he ask questions?
Does she/he use language imaginaively?
Does she/he write/recognize her/his name?
Does she/he write using scribbles, random letters, temporary
spelling, etc.?
Does she/he spend time concentrating on books?
How does she/he solve problems?
Information Sharing Session
Record