A Socio-Cultural Approach A Socio-Cultural Approach to Monitoring and to Monitoring and

Assessing Young Children’s Assessing Young Children’s LearningLearning

Lynn WhitesideLynn Whiteside Carmel MaloneyCarmel MaloneyLennie BarblettLennie Barblett

West Australian ContextWest Australian Context

Kindergarten & Pre-primary are the Kindergarten & Pre-primary are the non-compulsory provision before non-compulsory provision before school and are attached to the school and are attached to the compulsory schooling sectorcompulsory schooling sector

Issues of pushdown curriculum, Issues of pushdown curriculum, mismatch between mandated mismatch between mandated Curriculum Framework (K-year10) Curriculum Framework (K-year10) and young children’s learningand young children’s learning

BackgroundBackgroundShift towards dynamic assessment means:Shift towards dynamic assessment means:

Learning occurs during activity through guided Learning occurs during activity through guided participation participation

Linking assessment with instruction rather than after Linking assessment with instruction rather than after the factthe fact

Focus on process rather than productFocus on process rather than product Critical role of language as a communication toolCritical role of language as a communication tool Participants are seen as active parties within the Participants are seen as active parties within the

social activity (Rogoff 1990)social activity (Rogoff 1990) The relationship between participants (teacher as The relationship between participants (teacher as

knowledgeable other, children as co-constructorsknowledgeable other, children as co-constructors))

Research evidence- Research evidence- Effective Provision of Pre-School Education (EPPE), UKEffective Provision of Pre-School Education (EPPE), UK Research into Effective Pedagogy in the Early Years (REPEY), UKResearch into Effective Pedagogy in the Early Years (REPEY), UK Best Evidence Synthesis, NZBest Evidence Synthesis, NZ Marilyn Fleer, Jeffrey Walkley, AustraliaMarilyn Fleer, Jeffrey Walkley, Australia

Department of Education and Training Department of Education and Training (DET)(DET)

The Monitoring and Assessment ToolThe Monitoring and Assessment Tool Early childhood advisory committeeEarly childhood advisory committee Tool that would compliment effective Tool that would compliment effective

early childhood teaching and learningearly childhood teaching and learning Uses existing DET resourcesUses existing DET resources Emphasises interaction and modelled, Emphasises interaction and modelled,

shared & independent frameworkshared & independent framework Information shared with Information shared with

parent/caregivers and colleaguesparent/caregivers and colleagues

The CategoriesThe Categories

Each category has a number of key Each category has a number of key indicators:indicators:

Social EmotionalSocial Emotional PhysicalPhysical LiteracyLiteracy NumeracyNumeracy Knowledge and Understanding of the Knowledge and Understanding of the

WorldWorld CreativityCreativity

Tiara’s Learning JourneyTiara’s Learning JourneyTeachers: Rhonda Cutri & Leanne MossTeachers: Rhonda Cutri & Leanne Moss

Ashdale Primary School PP (5yrs)Ashdale Primary School PP (5yrs)

Modelled Shared

Independent

Teacher intentTeacher intentThe friendship letter writing experience focused The friendship letter writing experience focused

on the following literacy indicators from the on the following literacy indicators from the profile:profile:

Engages in simple printed textsEngages in simple printed texts Demonstrates an understanding of texts read to Demonstrates an understanding of texts read to

him or herhim or her Names some letters of the alphabetNames some letters of the alphabet Initiates writing or drawing to communicate an Initiates writing or drawing to communicate an

ideaidea Engages in role play writing, which may include Engages in role play writing, which may include

some letters, numerals or a combination of bothsome letters, numerals or a combination of both Draws meaning from images in visual textsDraws meaning from images in visual texts

Modelled Modelled

SharedShared

SharedShared

Independent Work SampleIndependent Work Sample

ConclusionConclusion Small pilot study- larger study taking Small pilot study- larger study taking

place place Developing assessment through a Developing assessment through a

different lens- assessment as a dynamic different lens- assessment as a dynamic and situated activityand situated activity

Compliments effective early childhood Compliments effective early childhood teaching and learning teaching and learning

This K/PP assessment connects This K/PP assessment connects teachers:teachers: with a shared language, with a shared language, a basis for planning, reporting and a basis for planning, reporting and

conversations about children,conversations about children, school systems of accountabilityschool systems of accountability