Temika Mccann

Blog Assignment wks 6

Testing for Intelligence?

There are many forms of assessments that schools and educators use to see where a child developmental levels that range. Some of the general ones include: DRDP which allows access to observe, assess, and report on the development of school age children and Individualized Education Programs (IEP) which teachers, service providers, and administrators use to determine the level of a child. As a mother and educator, I truly believe that evaluations a great tool to use when it comes to evaluating children. I do not think that a single test score should determine the level of the child progress I personally believed that authentic assessment is better than assumption. Educators must be aware of the fact that children’s abilities can be measured in a variety of ways. I truly believe that cultural influences and environment play a key role in a child learning.  According to Berger (2012) parents may blame a child’s inability to grasp a new math concept or a low math test score on heredity, when in fact it may be because the child missed school when this skill was being taught and did not receive the instruction he needed in order to be successful. I believe according to Berger (2012) that a child’s IQ test can be raised extensively when the educator, child and parents are working together as a team. I also believe a parent’s negative outlook on a child can greatly impact how he/she will perform in school. 

China children being tested

According to  In ( 1986), China enacted the Law of Compulsory Education, which required every child to complete nine years of

formal schooling – six years of primary school and three years of junior secondary school.6 By the mid-1990s, China had basically achieved this goal. According Kong ( 2012).  China has a long practice of extremely valuing education. This began with the Civil Examination System, established in 603 AD, which was also exported to Japan and Korea later in the 7th century. It was a very modest, yet well-organized system for selecting officials, and was known for its truthfulness and fairness. These examinations evolved over many periods before their establishment in 1905. The system had three tiers of examinations, at county, provincial and national levels. There were variations, but the general method used with the school-aged children was an essay test, where the candidates were confined for days in an examination cell, fed with good food, and required to write essays of political relevance. To do this, they had to be familiar with the classics I also have discovered good handwriting and writing styles were also part of the basic requirements. The final level of selection was usually held in the Examinations Department, which was often part of the imperial organization whoever gained the appreciation of the Emperor, who was virtually the chief examiner, would be the champion, followed by a few runners-up.  These winners were appointed to various official posts according to their examination results. 2? After researching this information, USA kids have it easy compared to the children in China.  Children in China must study constantly and be confined to a room for days.

I would like to share how vital it is for educators to be mindful of how they approach their student’s parents. Educators must always be polite and positive when first approaching parents about any concerns they may have about a child. After reading the article this week, I am not sure that labeling is always the correct way to define a child.  According to Snow (2009) each child has a medical judgment and those diagnoses do not define the child.  This statement is so true, and I personally do not agree with labeling children.  Just because a child learns differently, has different social skills or has different features, doesn’t give anyone the right to judge that child.  According to Snow, (2009) most of the children being mislabeled are a direct result of the children’s learning styles not matching the teaching style of the caregiver/educator. I personally agree with this statement because my daughter once had a teacher whose teaching style did not work well with my daughter’s learning style. As soon as I transferred my child to another class, she did well and the teacher also recognized a positive change in my child’s work performance. We, as educators, just have to be mindful and try putting ourselves in others shoes and so we can be more empathic toward others.

Reference

Berger, K. S. (2012). The developing person through childhood (6th ed.). New York, NY: Worth Publishers.

Shanghai AND Hong, K( 2010) TwO DISTINcT EXAMPLES OF EDUcATION

www.oecd.org/.../hongkongchina/

Snow, K. (2003-2009). Redefining disability. Retrieved from http://www.disabilityisnatural.com/images/PDF/redefindis.pdf