Inspirational Quotes

"Free the child's potential, and you will transform him into the world."- Maria Montessori

"If you're going to equalize the academic playing field, you've got to get the kids in early childhood programs."
- Paul Vallas quotes
"The purpose of education is to replace an empty mind with an open one."- Malcolm Forbes

"Experts tell us that 90% of all brain development occurs by the age of five. If we don't begin thinking about education in the early years, our children are at risk of falling behind by the time they start Kindergarten."- Robert. L. Ehrlich

"Children are like wet cement. Whatever falls on them makes an impression.- Dr. Hiam Ginnot

"A teacher affects eternity; he can never tell where his influence stops.
- Henry Adams

"Every child comes with the message that God is not yet discouraged of man."
- Rabindranath Tagore

"A teacher is a compass that activates the magnets of curiosity, knowledge, and wisdom in the pupils."
- Ever Garrison

Thank you so much for the great discussions and thoughts throughout this class. I think the quotes above say it all about how important teachers are to early childhood education. Be caring, inspirational, loving, etc. and always remember that we make impressions on our students, make sure that you are making a good impression!

Assessments

What and how do we assess our students' learning? The school-aged children where I work are assessed in a number of ways. One assessment is a computerized test that all the students in kindergarten through fourth grade take. It is from the Northwest Evaluation Association (NWEA). The students take this test three times each year, allowing the teachers and parents to see the students' progress along with a district average and national average. The scores are able to be compared for the same child to show growth, and to also show if that child is above, below, or on target with his/her peers in reading and math. A second assessment tool used by our district is Accelerated Reader (AR). This allows the teachers to make sure that the child is reaching a reading level goal, among other things. And thirdly, and most importantly, is our state's tests, Oklahoma Core Curriculum Test (OCCT). This test is currently given to third grade and above to measure student achievement.

In my personal opinion, yes, I believe these tests help to validate the learning that is supposed to be happening in every classroom. But I do not think teaching to a test is the right way to teach. If we as teachers are correctly teaching the curriculum that we are required to teach, then we should not have to spend extra time preparing the students for a test that we have already taught them the skills that they need. So if we are doing we are supposed to do, then we shouldn't have to worry about our students passing "the test."

In Japan, children go to kindergarten or day care until they are 6 years of age. Formal schooling then begins with elementary schools for grades 1-6. Grades may not determine if a child promotes to the next grade as it is determined more by attendance. But as they get to junior high school and high school aged, then they must pass a test to progress. The test is written by the teachers, but many practice tests are available. There are some more elite schools that require their own tests that are more difficult than the standards. I, personally, feel that the children in Japan are much more disciplined than the children in the United States so they are able to master academics in a different way than here. It would be interesting to look at a study of the differences in morals and respect between the two countries to see if they are a factor in the academic differences in the students.

Resources: http://bearcenter.berkeley.edu/measurement/pubs/apD51.pdf