By Angela Losardo, Ph.D., & Angela Notari-Syverson, Ph.D.

Are you looking for ways to meet the needs of young children who are culturally, linguistically, or developmentally diverse? Do you find traditional assessment methods too confining to accurately assess the needs of all your students? Discover which form of assessment is right for you in this groundbreaking book from the experts! You'll take an in-depth look at six alternative assessment methods such as

• naturalistic
• focused
• performance
• portfolio
• dynamic
• curriculum-based language

In each chapter, you'll explore one of these methods and find a detailed description of the approach, a summary of advantages and limitations, specific guidelines for implementation, suggestions for working in inclusive environments, and samples of data collection forms. With this book's innovative strategies, you'll be able to build on your existing traditional assessment skills and provide more comprehensive assessments for young children and their families!

And don't miss the Alternative Approaches web site, your personal Course Companion that supplements the book! This FREE resource for professors and students includes

• a course syllabus that outlines chapters, provides learning objectives, lists key concepts, and suggests supplemental readings
• discussion strategies and class activities
• self-study exams and answer keys for students
• PowerPoint slides to support in-class lectures
• downloadable blank forms
• links to web sites and discussion lists

Appropriate Courses

• Assessment and Curriculum in Early Childhood Education
  
  
• Early Childhood Special Education
  
  
• Early Intervention
  
  
• Special Education Assessment
  
  
• Education Psychology: Tests and Measurement
  
  

About the Authors
Foreword
Preface
For the Web Site Companion User
Acknowledgments

1. Historical Perspectives on Alternative Assessment
   
   Importance of Theoretical Frameworks
   Historical Perspective
   
   • Traditional Models of Child Development: Nature versus Nurture
     
   • Beginning of Integration
     
   • Toward a More Comprehensive Approach: Social-Constructivist Model
     
   • An Integrated Unified Model: Systems Perspective
     
   • Broad Ecological Approach

   
   Conclusion
   Review Questions
   
   

2. Traditional and Contemporary Assessment Models
   
   Definitions and Terminology
   Assessment Approaches and Tools
   
   • Formal Assessments
     
   • Nonformal Assessments
     

   
   Types of Assessment
   

   • Norm-Referenced Assessment
     
   • Criterion-Referenced Assessment
     

   
   Purposes of Assessment
   Limitations of Traditional Approaches
   

   • Complexity and Holistic Nature of Development
     
   • Role of Context and Culture on Learning
     

   
   Framework for Alternative Assessment Models
   Conclusion
   Review Questions
   
   

3. Naturalistic Assessment
   
   Theoretical Framework
   Models and Applications
   Advantages and Limitations
   
   • Advantages
     
   • Limitations
     

   
   Guidelines for Implementation
   Suggestions for Practitioners in Inclusive Environments
   

   • Initial Assessment
     
   • Goal Development
     
   • Intervention
     
   • Evaluation
     

   
   Conclusion
   Review Questions
   
   

4. Focused Assessment
   
   Contexts for Assessment
   Collecting Data
   
   • Play-Based Assessments
     

   
   Theoretical Framework
   

   • Clinical Approach
     
   • Developmental Theory
     
   • Transdisciplinary Approach
     

   
   Models and Applications
   

   • Play-Based Assessments
     

   
   Advantages and Limitations
   

   • Advantages
     
   • Limitations
     

   
   Guidelines for Implementation
   Suggestions for Practitioners in Inclusive Environments
   

   • Initial Assessment
     
   • Goal Development
     
   • Intervention
     
   • Evaluation
     

   
   Conclusion
   Review Questions
   
   

5. Performance Assessment
   
   Theoretical Framework
   
   • Social-Constructivist Approach
     
   • Ecological Approach
     

   Models and Applications
   Advantages and Limitations
   

   Advantages Limitations

   
   Guidelines for Implementation
   Suggestions for Practitioners in Inclusive Environments
   

   • Initial Assessment
     
   • Goal Development
     
   • Intervention
     
   • Evaluation
     

   
   Conclusion
   Review Questions
   
   

6. Portfolio Assessment
   
   Theoretical Framework
   
   • Ecological Approach
     
   • Social-Constructivist Approach
     

   
   Models and Applications
   

   • Criteria for Selecting and Evaluating Content
     
   • Child Participation
     

   
   Advantages and Limitations
   

   • Advantages
     
   • Limitations
     

   
   Guidelines for Implementation
   Suggestions for Practitioners in Inclusive Environments
   

   • Initial Assessment
     
   • Goal Development
     
   • Intervention
     
   • Evaluation
     

   
   Conclusion
   Review Questions
   
   

7. Dynamic Assessment
   
   Cognitive and Metacognitive Processes
   Self-Regulation and Socioemotional Processes
   Theoretical Framework
   Models and Applications
   
   • Dynamic Assessment and Scaffolding Models
     
   • Mediated Learning Approaches
     
   • Early Self-Regulation and Neurobehavioral Facilitation
     

   
   Advantages and Limitations
   

   • Advantages
     
   • Limitations
     

   
   Guidelines for Implementation
   Suggestions for Practitioners in Inclusive Environments
   

   • Initial Assessment
     
   • Goal Development
     
   • Intervention
     
   • Evaluation
     

   
   Conclusion
   Review Questions
   
   

8. Curriculum-Based Language Assessment
   
   Theoretical Framework
   Models and Applications
   Advantages and Limitations
   
   • Advantages
     
   • Limitations
     

   
   Guidelines for Implementation
   Suggestions for Practitioners in Inclusive Environments
   

   • Initial Assessment
     
   • Goal Development
     
   • Intervention
     
   • Evaluation
     

   
   Conclusion
   Review Questions
   
   

9. Transdisciplinary Framework
   
   Summary of Alternative Assessment Approaches
   Rationale for a Transdisciplinary Framework
   Models and Applications
   
   • System to Plan Early Childhood Services
     
   • Primary Language Record
     

   
   Barriers to Implementation
   Advantages and Limitations
   

   • Advantages
     
   • Limitations
     

   
   Guidelines for Implementation
   Conclusion
   Review Questions
   
   

10. Future Directions
    
    Major Themes
    
    • Holistic View of Child Development
      
    • Role of Context and Culture
      
    • Caregiver Involvement in the Assessment Process
      
    • Using a Transdisciplinary Framework
      
    • Using a Multidimensional Approach
      

    
    Guidelines for Assessing Children from Diverse Cultural and Linguistic Backgrounds
    

    • Alternative Assessment Approaches
      
    • Assessment Process
      

    
    Future Directions
    Review Questions
    

References
Glossary
Data Collection Sheets