ollaborating with Other Professionals
There are many reasons why assessment data is used in communication and collaboration with other professionals. For example, if you are a teacher, it may be necessary to share assessment data with other teachers to support a child’s transition. Assessment data can also be used to plan early intervention services that involve a variety of professionals who will be collaborating to address the needs of the whole child. And, as you have been learning, assessment data is a wonderful tool for developing effective partnerships with families. In all of these instances, the overall goal is to support the healthy development and learning of the child.
Consider the following scenario:
You are an early childhood behavior specialist consulting with a local Head Start program. One of the preschool teachers has some concerns about a child in her class. She has asked for you help because she has observed that this child seems to be frustrated in class, often hitting and pulling the hair of other children. In your conversation, you learn that the teacher has collected assessment data. This data has indicated potential delays in the areas of speech, motor functioning, and peer interactions.
With this scenario in mind, review pages 205–209 of Assessing and Guiding Young Children’s Development and Learning, paying close attention to Figure 11.5 on page 207 and the section on collaborative team approaches.
Reflect on what you have learned and experienced throughout this course as you respond to this week’s discussion posting.