Michelle Ong December 1, 2011 CHD 119 PALS and Standards Report What did you learn doing

g your individual research before the November 30th class? I have been fortunate to observe our Pre-k teachers implement the PALS to some of their students because I wanted to understand the process. As a 3 year old teacher, I think it is important to know what the children focus on in the next program level. When we first started talking about the PALS in this class, I brought up the concerns our Pre-k teachers have with limited class time to implement the test individually. Since they cant do the test during outside time and it cant be done during snack that leaves about 90 minutes out of a day to pull individual children. The videos were very short. If you are doing sample videos to provide instruction, it would benefit the target audience to view an entire session for that module or section. For example, in the section on Print and Word Awareness, they only showed the first part. Since they are recording the process anyway, it would help to continue through the entire process. What did you learn from the other students in your group? Did you feel prepared to participate in the group activity? Why or why not? I felt prepared for the activity. I viewed the video just before Thanksgiving break and took another look at them Tuesday before class. I can understand where some students felt that watching the video too far out from the assignment could limit recollection of the events of the video. I think our group had similar opinions regarding the videos. As we discussed them, we all agreed that the videos could have gone through the complete process. Also, we all wanted to tie the PALS test to a wide range of the Foundation Blocks. We all agreed though that the PALS can informally assess many other areas that may not be the target skill. For example, you are probably going to be introducing new vocabulary to students during the test. The top is not a typical word a preschooler knows. So, you are exposing the child to vocabulary. It isnt part of the test, but it is a by-product of it. In your opinion, is the PALS PreK Assessment a good tool to assess a students achievement of the VA Early Literacy Standards? Be sure to use your individual research, your group experience and what you have learned in class to support your opinion. This assessment does cover quite a few standards of the Foundation Blocks of early literacy and it is in one document but, I feel that the same skills can be assessed in small groups in a relaxed and part of their daily routine so that a child doesnt feel they are being tested. I viewed the videos and saw that some of the kids were looking around, rolling their eyes, and none looked like they were excited about the process. I guess my main concern stems from what is developmentally appropriate. In another class I am taking it stresses that assessments for young children need to be integrated into their daily routine and shouldnt be something out of the norm. It should also be meaningful and useful. Now, I am not saying that the PALS arent useful. My concern is that the assessment will become a test and just like in Kindergarten, teachers and students will be measured by the results of these. For preschoolers and even into Kindergarten and first grade, a child should be assessed in their normal play and center exploration time. The teachers in our center use it as a guideline to set up their lesson plans what the teacher needs to do to help the children along. What do you do if a child comes into the classroom each day and signs in by writing their name on various materials (chalkboard, whiteboard, shaving cream, etc.) but, you ask them to write their name on

the paper for the PALS and they dont do it because they dont feel like it? I only ask because in Kindergarten, they fail them and put them on a plan. Clearly the skill is there but, for some reason the student isnt comfortable with being singled out and pulled from the group. It can be very intimidating to be pulled out of the room of your friends and into a hallway with the teacher. We didnt get into a lot of discussion about the PALS effectiveness and what research has shown in relationship to those children who were given the assessment vs. those who werent. I honestly dont see the difference in the success of the children because of the assessment from the year we first began implementing. I feel the teachers are more cognizant about ensuring their lesson plans include ways to incorporate activities but, these teachers are fabulous and they had kids coming out of their class who knew their letters, wrote their name, rhymed, and had basic reading methods down well before this tool was used. Personally, I would rather have the Foundation Blocks put in an assessment format. This way, it is one document, it has the activities to promote the standard and it can allow for teachers to assess in an informal way. Reality is that we use tests to assess the success of students and teachers. Why not have it as one document such as the Foundation Blocks?