In the field of early childhood education, teachers of young children must find ways to show that children are growing, developing, and learning. Parents, as well as teachers, want to see proof of growth and development. Appropriate assessment methods can provide that proof. Assessment is defined as “taking stock of a situation”. It is important that teachers of young children understand the need for assessment in the classroom setting, evaluate children and take stock of their growth and development.

Authentic Assessment is defined as the process of documenting and evaluating growth and development in real-life situations over time. It shows what children can do, what they know, and what they understand. Rather than attempting to explain a child’s performance based on one test, this type of assessment focuses on the progress and growth of a child over time. Authentic assessment helps to paint a more accurate picture of who the child is and how the child is growing and learning. The term assessment, when used in the context of early childhood education, is sometimes interchanged with the term observation. Observation is one method of assessing student growth and development and is probably the best-known, most widely used way that teachers evaluate the progress of the young children they teach.

Teachers may wonder what to assess when working with young children. Using multiple forms of assessment allows a teacher to reveal an accurate picture of the child. Early childhood includes children from birth to age eight and is a very difficult period to assess because the rate of growth is so rapid. Also, growth is highly influenced by nurturing parents, quality of care, and the learning environment. Parents want to be assured that their child is ready for school. In addition, teachers and administrators want to know if they are offering effective programs. Therefore, assessment information is critical to the child, the parent, and the success of the program.

Assessment is a hot topic in the field of early childhood education as accountability becomes more important for teachers and schools. As educators, we must find ways to show we are teaching and that children are learning. It is imperative to find methods that illustrate growth and development over time, allowing children to be evaluated in real-life, everyday settings. It is the teacher’s responsibility to find methods of documentation that report success of children.

By understanding the basic developmental areas of the children you teach, assessment can be made simple. Easy-to-learn methods of assessment will help you document the developmental growth of young children over time. Learn more about assessment tools for the classroom. Visit ChildCare Education Institute to discover over 100 online child care training courses that meet the continuing education requirements of the child care industry.

If you want to dress your baby in clothing made without pesticides and toxic fabric finishes, organic baby clothes are a smart choice. Certified organic cotton baby clothing is also free of flame retardants, heavy metals and petrochemicals and other toxins that could be harmful to a developing baby. Whether you are shopping for a new baby or making over your baby’s wardrobe, here are some tips to help you navigate through the world of organic baby clothing.

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There is no denying that organic baby clothing costs more than conventional clothing, but if you shop smart, you can dress your baby in organic cotton or other natural fibers for reasonable prices. Coupons, sales and comparison shopping are just a few methods. Furthermore, if you are easing your way into organic clothing, you can start with the pieces that will be closest to your baby’s skin and worn most often. You can’t go wrong with body suits, t-shirts and leggings. They can be worn alone or layered under other outfits. For this same reason you may want to go with solid colors that can be mixed and matched for variety.

Wherever you shop and whatever your price point, be sure to read the labels and inspect the fabric. You don’t want to be fooled by marketing buzz words like “all natural” or even “organic.” An article of organic baby clothing will be labeled as 100% organic and not blended with synthetic fabrics.