Assessment as a Tool

A holistic approach to viewing young children would entail an environment to supports physical, social, emotional, mental, spiritual, and academic development.  Once that environment is established, I do believe that in order to established an atmosphere of growth assessments are necessary.  Assessments provide caregivers with the information they need to take children to the next level of development.  Assessments should focus on a single child’s abilities and not the child’s ability compared to other children.  In addition, assessments should take into account the environment and the child’s mental and emotional state when the assessment is taking place because it can affect the child’s performance.

            From personal experience, I recall in Haiti assessments are administered in the form of tests.  There are national tests taken by all children in order to move onto the first grade, the seventh grade, and twelfth grade.  The results of these exams determine moving to the next grade and the final one that is administered in the twelfth grade determines graduation.