I
think that children should be assessed to look for delays that they do need
interventions and services for. However
I feel that we do need to think of the whole child. This includes not just what they can do academically
with identifying letters, shapes, and numbers, but how well they are
physically, socially, and emotionally developing. We should assess how they learn, what works
best in regards to the area of multiple intelligence, where they are strongest
in the various levels and where are they weakest for being able to learn to the
best of their abilities. If we can
identify their strongest areas and methods of learning then this would help
them through their academic career as we know children do not all learn through
the same methods and at the same level.
China
has several assessments they use on their children. Chidlrne can enter formal schooling at the
age of six, some delayed until seven, and some children who are experimental
areas can begin at age five. They
complete term assessments such as semester finals to assess their skills, end
of the year assessments, and assessments at the completion of primary school to
determine their level for advancing to middle school. At the completion of middle school the children
must take examinations based on local requirements and standards to determine
if they advance to high school. Some of
these tests are based on collegiate requirements and some are designed by the government
and local agencies.
Specific
assessments are based on literacy as China has a strong emphasis on making
their country literate after a great history of having a very illiterate
country. The assessment includes being
able to read Chinese characters, reading and comprehension, calculations, and
practical reading.
Zhang,
Juwei, 2004. China’s Skill Assessment
System. Institute of Population and
Labor Economics
Chinese
Academy of Social Sciences http://siteresources.worldbank.org/EDUCATION/Resources/278200-1126210664195/1636971-1126210694253/China_Skills_Assessment.pdf
Do you think testing alone is effective in finding delays in learning or other aspects can be just as effective without doing tests?
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