Skip to main content

Advertisement

Log in

Assessment in the Kindergarten Classroom: An Empirical Study of Teachers’ Assessment Approaches

  • Published:
Early Childhood Education Journal Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Within the current accountability framework of public education, kindergarten teachers face the challenge of balancing traditional developmental programing and current academically oriented curriculum. Central to this challenge is teachers’ uses of assessment to measure and communicate student learning in relation to their curricular stance. The purpose of this study was to provide an in-depth examination of three teachers’ approaches to assessment within the current context of kindergarten education in order to elucidate potential approaches to bridging developmental and academic demands. Based on data collected from teacher interviews and classroom observations, three profiles are constructed that link focal teachers’ curricular stances with their approach to assessment. The paper concludes with a discussion on assessment within kindergarten education and areas for future research in the field.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Abu-Jaber, M., Al-Shawareb, A., & Gheith, E. (2010). Kindergarten teachers’ beliefs toward developmentally appropriate practice in Jordan. Early Childhood Education Journal, 38, 65–74.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Assessment Reform Group. (2002). Assessment for learning: 10 principles. Cambridge: University of Cambridge.

    Google Scholar 

  • Black, P., & Wiliam, D. (2006). Developing a theory of formative assessment. In J. Gardner (Ed.), Assessment and learning (pp. 81–100). London: Sage.

    Google Scholar 

  • Brookhart, S. M. (2003). Developing measurement theory for classroom assessment purposes and uses. Educational Measurement: Issues and Practice, 22(4), 5–12.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Brookhart, S. (2004). Classroom assessment: Tensions and intersections in theory and practice. Teachers College Record, 106, 429–458.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Brown, C. (2011). Searching for the norm in a system of absolutes: A case study of standards-based accountability reform in pre-kindergarten. Early Education and Development, 22, 151–177.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Dunphy, E. (2010). Assessing early learning through formative assessment: Key issues and considerations. Irish Educational Studies, 29(1), 41–56.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Earl, L. (2003). Assessment as learning: Using classroom assessment to maximise student learning. Thousand Oaks, CA: Corwin Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Einrsdottir, J. (2008). Children’s and parents’ perspectives on the purpose of playschool in Iceland. International Journal of Educational Research, 47, 283–291.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Fang, Z. (1996). A review of research on teacher beliefs and practices. Educational Research, 38(1), 47–65.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Feldman, E. N. (2010). Benchmarks curricular planning and assessment framework: Utilizing standards without introducing standardization. Early Childhood Education Journal, 38, 233–242.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Fung, C. K. (2009). The complexities in promoting play-based kindergarten curriculum in Hong Kong: One teacher’s story. Canadian Children, 34(2), 16–24.

    Google Scholar 

  • Gardner, J. (2006). Assessment for learning: A compelling conceptualization. In J. Gardner (Ed.), Assessment and Learning (pp. 197–204). London: Sage.

    Google Scholar 

  • Geist, E., & Baum, A. C. (2005). Yeah, but’s that keep teachers from embracing an active curriculum overcoming the resistance. Young Children on the Web, 1–8.

  • Goldstein, L. S. (2007a). Beyond the DAP versus standards dilemma: Examining the unforgiving complexity of kindergarten teaching in the United States. Early Childhood Research Quarterly, 22, 39–54.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Goldstein, L. S. (2007b). Embracing pedagogical multiplicity: Examining two teachers’ instructional responses to the changing expectations for kindergarten in U.S. public schools. Journal of Research in Childhood Education, 21, 378–399.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Gullo, D. F. (2006). Assessment in kindergarten. In D. F. Gullo (Ed.), K today: Teaching and learning in the kindergarten year (pp. 138–150). Washington, DC: NAEYC.

    Google Scholar 

  • Gullo, D. F., & Hughes, K. (2011). Reclaiming kindergarten: Part I. Questions about theory and practice. Early Childhood Education Journal, 38, 323–328.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Heydon, R. M., & Wang, P. (2006). Curricular ethics in early childhood education programming: A challenge to the Ontario kindergarten program. McGill Journal of Education, 41(1), 29–47.

    Google Scholar 

  • Mathison, S. (1988). Why triangulate? Educational Researcher, 17(2), 13–17.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • McNair, S., Bhargava, A., Adams, L., Edgerton, S., & Kypros, B. (2003). Teachers speak out on assessment practices. Early Childhood Education Journal, 31(1), 23–31.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Nie, Y., & Lau, S. (2010). Differential relations of constructivist and didactic instruction to students’ cognition, motivation, and achievement. Learning and Instruction, 20, 411–423.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Ontario Ministry of Education. (2003). Early reading strategy. The report of the expert panel on early reading in Ontario. Toronto, ON: Queen’s Printer for Ontario.

    Google Scholar 

  • Ontario Ministry of Education. (2010a). Growing success: Assessment, evaluation and reporting in Ontario schools. Toronto, ON: Queen’s Printers for Ontario.

    Google Scholar 

  • Ontario Ministry of Education. (2010b). The full-day early learning kindergarten program. Toronto, ON: Queen’s Printers for Ontario.

    Google Scholar 

  • Parker, A., & Neuharth-Pritchett, S. (2006). Developmentally appropriate practice in kindergarten: Factors shaping teacher beliefs and practice. Journal of Research in Childhood Education, 21(1), 65–78.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Patton, M. Q. (2002). Qualitative research & evaluation methods (3rd ed.). Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage.

    Google Scholar 

  • Ray, K., & Smith, M. C. (2010). The kindergarten child: What teachers and administrators need to know to promote academic success in all children. Early Childhood Education Journal, 38(5), 5–18.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Roach, A. T., Wixson, C., & Talapatra, D. (2010). Aligning an early childhood assessment to state kindergarten content standards: Application of a nationally recognized alignment framework. Educational Measurement: Issues and Practice, 29(1), 25–37.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Rushton, S., & Larkin, E. (2001). Shaping the learning environment: Connecting developmentally appropriate practices to brain research. Early Childhood Education Journal, 29(1), 25–33.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Russell, J. L. (2011). From child’s garden to academic press: The role of shifting institutional logics in redefining kindergarten education. American Educational Research Journal, 48, 236–267.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Steele, M. M. (2004). Making the case for early identification and intervention for young children at risk for learning disabilities. Early Childhood Education Journal, 32(2), 75–79.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Stiggins, R. (2005). From formative assessment to assessment for learning: A path to success in standards-based schools. Phi Delta Kappan, 87(4), 324–328.

    Google Scholar 

  • Stipek, D., & Byler, P. (2004). The early childhood classroom observation measure. Early Childhood Research Quarterly, 19, 375–397.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • US Department of Education. (2010). A blueprint for reform: The reauthorization of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act. Washington, DC: US Department of Education.

    Google Scholar 

  • Wragg, E. C. (1994). An introduction to classroom observation. New York, NY: Routledge.

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgments

This research was supported by the Canadian Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Angela Pyle.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Pyle, A., DeLuca, C. Assessment in the Kindergarten Classroom: An Empirical Study of Teachers’ Assessment Approaches. Early Childhood Educ J 41, 373–380 (2013). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10643-012-0573-2

Download citation

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10643-012-0573-2

Keywords

Navigation