Work Sampling Assessment System *Making it Work for Home Visiting Programs*

April 25, 2012 1:30-3:00 p.m.

Work Sampling is the assessment system Arkansas ABC and ABCSS programs use to gauge the progress of children.

To explain why and how Arkansas HIPPY programs are using the WSS to gauge the progress of 3 and 4 year-old children.

To share how one program in Arkansas

gathers data to support online entries.

To show you how the online data entry system looks and operates.

To answer any questions you may have about WSS.

Why Assess Young Children legislative mandate sustain funding more uniformity across agencies and programs inform the general public about use of tax dollars program credibility the right thing to do

Assessment of young children should rely mainly on the results and observations of their development and other descriptive data.

Decisions that have a major impact on the educational life of a young child should not be made on the basis of a single developmental screening

Assessment is a tool or process for answering specific questions about various aspects of children’s knowledge, skills, behavior or personality.

A child’s progress is defined in terms of individual growth and development rather than an arbitrary set of criteria.

Assessment should be based on what a child Can do and Not what a child Cannot do.

Programs like HIPPY and schools should be ready for the child and strive to meet their individual needs.

Adapted from NAEYC and the National Association of Early Childhood Specialist in the State Departments of Education

Information learned is used to understand and improve learning and HIPPY program practices.

Screening is always linked to follow-up.

Families are informed and appropriate referrals are made to appropriate agency.

Work Sampling is a continuous progress assessment designed to be used with children from preschool through fifth grade.

I. Personal and Social Development II. Language and Literacy III. Mathematical Thinking IV. Scientific Thinking V. Social Studies VI. The Arts VII. Physical Development

I. Personal & Social Development II. Language & Literacy

III. Mathematical Thinking IV. Scientific Thinking V. Social Studies VI. The Arts VII. Physical Development

Domains

Domain Functional Component Performance Indicator Rationale Examples

Domain Personal and Social Functional Component Self concept Performance Indicator Demonstrates self-confidence

Rationale Many preschool children come to

school with a positive sense of self, certain they will be liked. Others need time to observe and opportunities to learn how to play in a group setting.

Questions

When, Where and How to

Observe Children in the HIPPY Program…

Tried and True Best Practices

1) in the action 2) out of the action 3) after the fact

Observation of the child Brief/Anecdotal notes Local program methods Selected HIPPY Curriculum Pull Pages

What are some of the obstacles you think you

may encounter in HIPPY while trying to obtain Work Sampling data on children?

Implementation requires……….

1. Time 2. Planning 3. Training

Work Sampling is a web-based data entry

system. Data entered must be factual and

substantiated by documentation that is included in the child’s portfolio.

There are four possible ways you can rate a child…… Not Yet In Process Proficient N/A (Not Applicable)

Questions and Answers

Thank You!