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Assessment FAQ's What do you look for in a Developmental Assessment?
We look for a range of physical and cognitive development appropriate to each child’s age. While the assessment does include “academic” material such as alphabet, number and color recognition, it also includes movement, drawing, playing with puzzles, and building with blocks. We also love to just talk with children about their families, their schools, and their favorite things!
It is important to note that we do not rank children at this age level on their knowledge base, nor do we attempt to determine their IQ’s. Preschoolers quite naturally present a wide range of skills. Any two children of the same age can present a very different combination of knowledge and abilities, and both can be completely appropriate developmentally.
What we hope to discover in our meeting with a young applicant is a sense that he or she will come into our Kindergarten program ready to engage and learn.
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Can I be present in the room when my child is assessed?
Absolutely. We want families to be secure in our admissions process – the more secure you are, the more secure your child will be. We acknowledge that you know your child far better than we do and encourage you to choose the environment you think is most comfortable for your child. You will note that we make arrangements for a limited separation (where the parent may be seated outside the room with the door open). We feel this often helps allay any anxiety a child might have in an unfamiliar environment while allowing him or her the independence needed to engage fully.
Should I prepare my child for the assessment beforehand?
It is not recommended that children be “coached” before an assessment. Again, we are primarily interested in development, not knowledge base. It is useful, however, to prepare your child for the meeting in a way that will help make him or her relaxed. You may say that he/she will meet with a “teacher” for some fun activities or games. You may suggest that it is your child’s chance to “check out” a “big kids’ school” to see if they like it. It is not recommended that children be “surprised” by the meeting. Experience has taught us that most children do not handle this kind of surprise well.
Will I get feedback after the assessment?
The short answer is: No. The reasons for this, however, are various:
First, we do not promote talking about children’s “accomplishments” or “performance” in their presence. We do our very best to make the assessment as stress-free as possible and want children to leave Sacred Heart feeling relaxed and happy with themselves.
Second, assessments are only one part of a multi-step admissions process. We understand that we cannot get a complete picture of a child from a single, brief meeting. This is why the admissions process does not end with the assessment, but goes on to include a preschool observation and a teacher recommendation. These three “snap shots” allow us to reflect on each child from a variety of perspectives. We would never consider making an admission decision based on an assessment alone; if we never consider the results of an assessment in isolation, we feel it would be misleading to encourage you to do so. If you feel the need for specific feedback, we ask that you contact the Director of Admissions after all steps in the application process are complete.
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