A NOTE OF PROFESSIONAL THANKS

I would like to thank my professor and colleagues for their support through online communication via discussion board, blogs, and applications.  The past eight weeks have taken me on a journey through infants, toddler, preschool, and school-aged children.  I learned infants are capable of imitating facial expressions of adults when given the opportunity.  Toddlers/Preschoolers are mastering physical abilities while school-aged children are discovering who they are and where they came from.  Overall this course has taken me down memory lane on some aspects and other it has opened up new avenues.  I want thank everyone for their words of encouragement and guidance.

Mrs. Miller, I would especially like to say thank you for the web links you have shared with me over the eight weeks; I am adding to them to my reference page that i can use later in my career and continuing education.  I would also like to extend my appreciation for your patience when I had some challenges with submitting a couple assignments on time.  I hope we meet again in some other studies in this program.  Your support has been generous and uncompromising.  Thank you for an awesome experience.      

Quote about children

Children are like cement whatever falls on them makes an impression by Dr. Haim Ginott

This quote tells me whatever encounters a child has they are influenced by them; they are learning experiences for children coming in to contact with the world around for it is a child's classroom. As an educator we must monitor our behaviors and language when in the presence of children because everything we say and do will leave an imprint on our children.

Testing for Intelligence

The debate in the area of cognitive development and whether or not young children should be assessed is a valid argument. I think a child intelligence should be measure when it has been deemed necessary by a medical professional when the parents have expressed a concern such as their child is three years of age and not talking. Strauss, 2011 stated any assessment on children ages 3-5 is unreliable because the testing requires a complex information processing skill that young children may not have completely developed. However, there is the theory that the intelligence of young children can be measured and meaningfully quantified by a dynamic system that continues to develop throughout life. The important factors for growth include teachers facilitating learning experiences, impacting the quality of learning and influence the potential intelligence of each student (Hine, 2014). Reuven Feuerstein an Israeli psychologist and educator created an approach that focuses on the quality of interaction between the teacher and the learner, called Mediated Learning Experiences (Hine, 2014). He has successfully demonstrated how, through systematic and planned enrichment, intelligence can be modified, expanded, and developed. (Hine, 2014).
I have researched most of the major countries around the world to find out in what ways children are assessed in other countries. I discovered in other parts of the world educators are using some of the same forms of testing used here in the United States. There is evidence from the DVD Journey through the Life Span "Middle Childhood" that standard testing cannot be used on children living in Africa far out in the bush. Through the course of my research there was also reference made from theorist who believe testing is not necessary for young children. Some educators believe children cognitive abilities are only as advanced as what they learn from life experience, the environment, and from interaction from family members.
In day care our focus is not assessment in the form of IQ's; what we keep track of is the development of the whole child. If we notice there is a delay in a child based on information documented in the child's portage tool; our Toddler/Preschool Director who has a graduate degree in Special Education will me with the parents and suggest some form on intervention or referral to professionals for evaluation.


Reference:
Hine, C. (2014, April 10). Developing Multiple Intelligences in Young Learners. Retrieved from earlychildhoodnews.com
Strauss, V. (July 19). Why giving standardized tests to young children is "really dumb". Retrieved from washintonpost.com