This clearly written text is an excellent introduction to assessing young children. This edition:

Emphasizes the multidimensional approach to assessment. In addition to covering core concepts in informal and formal assessment,this edition includesupdated and expanded discussionson the following topics to provide students with a strong foundation in current assessment issues and practices: NCLB, infant and preschool standardized tests, and assessing children who are bilingual, are limited English speakers, and have special needs.

Integrates real-life assessment vignettes. Highlighted in boxes throughout the text, brief case studies of children with diverse backgrounds are highlighted in boxes throughout the text bring real assessment situations in various settings to life, helping pre-service teachers understand today’s issues, concepts, and methods of appropriate assessment.

Discusses purposes, advantages, disadvantages, and limitations of various assessment methods.Because teachers routinely select assessment methods, this book presents pros and cons of standardized tests, checklists, rating scales, rubrics, observations of developmental domains, anecdotal records, running records, time sampling, portfolios, performance-based assessments, and others.

Instructs students how to develop quality teacher-designed assessments. Includes detailed steps for writing instructional and behavioral objectives and designing formative and summative evaluations, learning experiences, and corrective and enrichment activities.