What are the three main reasons child care
programs observe and screen children? - Define: Observation - ANSWER -An
ANSWER -1. Facilitate growth and ongoing process in which child care professionals
development of every child recognize and document identifiable
2. Detect early signs of developmental delay or developmental milestones as they appear, using
disability tools such as checklists, anecdotal records, and
3. Identify signs of child abuse or neglect running records.
Define: Assessment - ANSWER - Define: Screening - ANSWER -Is an
Assessment is a process whereby an agency or ongoing process in which child care professionals
organization gathers and reviews multiple use specialized observation and documentation
sources of information about a child's suspected tools to identify, document, and monitor typical
or confirmed developmental delay or disability, development or possible developmental delay.
and uses that information to improve a child's
outcomes.
Give examples of professional groups that
perform each of these four activities: observation,
Define: Evidence - ANSWER -Documented screening, assessment, and evaluation. -
evidence refers to written data collected by the ANSWER -Observation: child care
program. For example, there may be a file note professionals monitor a child as he or she
stating when a child could stand on one foot. demonstrates identified skills or abilities within a
developmental domain or domains.
Define: Developmental Domains - Assessment: child care professionals refer
ANSWER -Categorize children's skills and families to the Florida Diagnostic and Learning
abilities. They include Physical Development, Resource System's Child Find for assessment,
Cognitive Development and General Knowledge, which may result in them being referred to
Language and Communication, Social and Children's Medical Services for evaluation of a
Emotional, and Approaches to Learning. delay or disability.
Evaluation:Children's Medical Services performs
Define: Evaluation - ANSWER -Evaluation assessment and evaluation processes to
is a process that determines a child's eligibility determine eligibility for programs and services
for federal, state, and local programs and under the Individuals with Disabilities Education
services. Act (IDEA).
Screening: child care professionals or other
medical professionals
Define: Natural Environment - ANSWER -
Refers to places the child would typically be,
such as home, the child care program, school, a
Relate the four guidelines for observations and
place
screenings that take place in child care settings. -
of worship, or the homes of family and friends
rather than a director's office, doctor/therapist's ANSWER -1. Be informed
office, or similar places. 2. Be objective and accurate
3. Be honest and fair
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4. Be focused systematic, and deliberate
Name characteristics seen in effective child care List characteristics shared by quality screening
professionals who observe and screen children. - instruments. - ANSWER -1. Easy to use.
ANSWER -Objective, follow directions, 2. Accurate.
accurate/relevant documentation, ethical, honest, 3. Affordable.
fair, information seeker 4. readily available.
5. sensitive in regards to ethnicity, culture, and
linguistics.
Describe best practices used by skilled 6. reliable.
practitioners to obtain valid and usable results. - 7. have specific components.
ANSWER -Review appropriate general 8. endorsed by individuals, agencies, and
information immediately prior to an observation organizations that are respected within the early
or screening session. This includes: education or early intervention communities.
1. Developmental domains and milestones 9. Quality screening instruments using
2. Information about the child's abilities and technology should be user-friendly, meet
unique needs accessibility requirements, and fit the program's
3. Study the child's file needs.
4. Know how to use the observation or screening
tool before attempting to use it.
5. Ensure observation and screening results do Explain how to select a screening tool for specific
not reflect personal feelings. Set aside personal children. - ANSWER -1. Child care
beliefs and consider only facts. professionals select screening tools based on
6. Document all relevant information specific quality considerations to ensure they will
7. Ensure documentation is correct and meet the needs of the children, their families, and
complete. the program.
8. Document children's development over time. 2. Child care professionals ask the right
9. Observe and screen when children are at their questions about a tool before using it with a child,
best. including:
10. Conduct sessions in the child's natural What does the instrument screen?
setting with familiar staff What is the target age range?
11. Never observe or screen with the intent of What languages are available?
confirming a suspicion of delay, disability, abuse, Does the screener need to be specially trained?
or neglect. How many items are screened?
12. Allow enough time. How long does it take to administer?
13. Observe or screen one child at a time. How is it implemented and scored?
14. Pay attention to small differences and details, 3. To determine if a screening instrument is right
because it is in those one can see emerging for a child, the answers to these questions are
trends and patterns of growth and development, compared to the principles of developmentally
the earliest signs of delay or disability, and subtle appropriate practice for the child.
signs of abuse or neglect. If signs of child abuse
or neglect are observed, you must, by law, report
them to the Abuse Hotline. Describe guidelines and best practices for
15. Work methodically and thoughtfully. To work implementation. - ANSWER -1. Screening,
methodically, professionals are organized, assessment, and evaluation should be
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