The Early Childhood Technical Assistance Center (ECTA) is a treasure trove of useful information. This week, we’re featuring a collection of tools on “Identifying and Building on Child Strengths.” The set contains three documents from ECTA’s assessment resources that we’re sure you’ll find helpful as you strive to conduct strength-based evaluations and assessments:
- Building on Child Strengths,
- Identifying Child Strengths, and
- Building on Child Strengths Practices Checklist.
The first two contain video examples and descriptions of strength-based learning opportunities and ways to identify a child’s abilities and interests. The third document is a checklist practitioners can use to gauge their strength-based assessment skills based on the Recommended Practices of the Division for Early Childhood (DEC). Check them out and share with your colleagues.
The ICC-Recommended Early Start Personnel Manual (ESPM) describes core knowledge and role-specific competencies needed for early intervention service provision, incorporating current research and evidence in the field of early intervention. Click here to access the ESPM. Scroll down to find the ESPM entry.
This resource is related to the following ESPM knowledge-level competencies:
Evaluation and Assessment (EA):
- EA7 (EIS): Knows strategies to determine child and family strengths, typical routines and activities, and preferred teaching and learning styles.
- EA8 (EIS): Understands the connection between assessment information and the development of appropriate interventions
- EA9 (EIS): Knows strategies for formal and informal evidence-based assessment, such as observation, naturalistic play-based assessment, and family interviewing.
- EA10 (EIS): Knows multiple tools and practices to assess development and progress in the physical, cognitive, language, social-emotional, and adaptive domains.