Assessments are used to design interventions and planning curriculum goals. Standardized test aim to assess constrained skills in a controlled and structured environment. The standardized tests should be used with caution when used on preschool children due to several drawbacks. There is questionable validity of the information gathered by the standardized test. Children at preschool stage undergo rapid development that is influenced by factors such as environment, cultural settings and family setting. Therefore every child develops uniquely thus rendering the standardized unfit for assessing the children’s capabilities. The development component can be addressed by a more flexible setting of assessment. Standardized test may cause anxiety and pressure to the children thus affecting their emotional development and self esteem. The preschool children assessment should be carried out in a way that suits the developmental level and comfort. Standardized tests are not suitable for preschool children but rather ongoing assessment in natural settings should be opted (National Research Council, 2001)
References
National Research Council (2001) Eager to Learn: Educating Our Preschoolers. Committee on Early Childhood Pedagogy. Barbara T. Bowman, M.Suzanne Donovan, and M.Susan Burns, editors. Commission on Behavioral and Social Sciences and Education. Washington, DC: National Academy Press.
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