Chapter 9 Using Rating Scales to Look at Literacy “A fair assessment of any child cannot be gathered with any one recording instrument on any one day.” ©2014 Cengage Learning. All Rights Reserved. RATING SCALES • Rating scale – Description of criteria in a graduated horizontal position (also called a rubric) • Quality points – The steps along the way to desired competence (also called benchmarks) • Closed method – No details recorded • Selective method – Only noting specific actions, tasks, behaviors ©2014 Cengage Learning. All Rights Reserved. Uses of the Rating Scale Advantages Disadvantages • Fast, convenient • More choices than a checklist • See skills advancing along a continuum • Revisited over time to see progress • Details lost • Selective and subjective • Not useful for spontaneous events ©2014 Cengage Learning. All Rights Reserved. Rating Scale ©2014 Cengage Learning. All Rights Reserved. LOOKING AT LITERACY Literacy Development • Print-rich environment – Reading opportunities are all around • Emergent literacy – Everyday experiences • Babies and books – Early is good • Reading to preschoolers – Involves all areas of development ©2014 Cengage Learning. All Rights Reserved. Types of Books • • • • • • • • Story books Nonfiction books Wordless books Interaction books Concept books Predictable books Reference books Alphabet and word books • Novelty books • Paperbacks and magazines • Teacher- and childmade books • Therapeutic books • Seasonal and holiday books • Books with audio tapes • Infant-toddler books • Multicultural books ©2014 Cengage Learning. All Rights Reserved. Phonological Awareness • • • • • Attention to sounds of spoken language Matching sounds Blending sounds Rhyming Counting parts of words (syllables) ©2014 Cengage Learning. All Rights Reserved. Play/Literacy Connection • Play provides opportunities to promote literacy skills • Language experiences in play build between oral and written communication • Opportunities to use literacy in real-life ways • Play/Literacy impacts and is impacted by all domains of development • Play themes with literacy are opportunities for social emotional expression ©2014 Cengage Learning. All Rights Reserved. TOPICS IN OBSERVATION: Books in the Sandbox Placing books and print materials throughout the environment: • • • • • • • Sandbox/Water table Dramatic play area Block area Art area Science/Math area Outdoors Bathroom ©2014 Cengage Learning. All Rights Reserved. Observing Infants and Toddlers with Books • Giving listening and visual attention to book • Sensory experiences of touching, smelling, and tasting • Lengthening memory and attention span • Re-telling story from pictures • Giving attention to the printed words on the page ©2014 Cengage Learning. All Rights Reserved. Reading and Writing Development ©2014 Cengage Learning. All Rights Reserved. Young Children Write Stages of Writing • • • • • • • Scribbling – Random marks Drawing – Organized into circles Making letters – Capitals Invented spelling – Phonetic or by pattern Organizing print – Names on work Dictation – Seeing spoken word in print Backward letters – Experimentation, early writing ©2014 Cengage Learning. All Rights Reserved. Helping All Children with Literacy • Physical Disabilities – Adaptations • Learning Disabilities • English Language Learners – Literacy in first language – Materials, books in first language • Helping Professionals ©2014 Cengage Learning. All Rights Reserved. Standard Related to Literacy Standards for Reading Professionals (International Reading Association) 4.3 Model reading and writing enthusiastically as valued lifelong activities. ©2014 Cengage Learning. All Rights Reserved.