How is Play Assessed?

 How Do We Assess Play-Based Learning?

What is Assessment in Kindergarten?

Assessment is a vital aspect to the Kindergarten classroom. It allows us, your child's educators, to identify where your child is at in their learning, so to be able to plan and set goals for each student. Through the use of observation and documentation, we are able to reflect on the individual needs of each student, while planning activities and inquiries that will keep their learning development continuously moving.

There are three major forms of assessment we conduct within the classroom:

1. Assessment for Learning. This is continuous observation, documentation and assessment of learning conducted throughout the year and learning.
   
   
2. Assessment as Learning. This is a process where students gradually become autonomous learners through involving them in the learning process and reflecting on the learning process. 
   
   
3. Assessment of Learning. This is using student evidence and comparing it curriculum expectations to indicate where a students learning is, and what the next steps would be to further their learning in this area.
   
   

How Are We Assessing Students? 

We are assessing students every possible second of the day! In our eyes, there is no such thing as too much assessment. We are constantly engaging with students in their play, asking them questions to further their thoughts and learning process, while recording and notating important discoveries and ideas that took place throughout the learning. 

Some days, we may walk around and engage with students, simply jotting notes of observation on a t-chart with each students name. Other days, we may have a checklist, so to indicate which students have reached a set expectation for a certain activity. And other days we use technology, assessing students through photo/video documentation and other online assessment tools (such as a Google Form). The more information we collect regarding student learning through play, the better equipped we are to plan for furthered learning and specific instruction. 

References:

Ontario Ministry of Education (OME). (2016). Growing Success The Kindergarten Addendum
(Assessment, Evaluation, and Reporting in Ontario Schools). Ontario Ministry of Education. Retrieved from http://www.edu.gov.on.ca/eng/policyfunding/growingsuccessaddendum.pdf.

Ontario Ministry of Education (OME). (2016). The Kindergarten Program. Ontario Ministry of
Education. Retrieved from https://files.ontario.ca/books/edu_the_kindergarten_program_english_aoda_web_oct7.pdf.