Transdisciplinary Play-based Assessment - Softcover

Linder, Toni W.

Softcover

ISBN 10: 155766871X ISBN 13: 9781557668714

Publisher: Brookes Screening & Assessment, 2008

Synopsis

Early childhood professionals: the new Transdisciplinary Play-Based System is here, and it's better than ever! For 15 years, this highly acclaimed linked system has been one of the most natural, easy-to-use assessment and intervention approaches for children birth to age six - and now it's been completely revised and updated so it's even more effective and user-friendly.Why choose ""TPBA2"" and ""TPBI2""? This popular system gets accurate assessment results and improves child outcomes because it's: play-based, so children are relaxed, engaged, and motivated enough to show the full range of their skills and abilities; child-directed, so it encourages spontaneity and creativity and is easy to use in home-based settings; strengths-focused, assessing what children can do instead of what they can't; and, parent-friendly, tapping into the invaluable expertise of those who know the child best.Current ""TBPA/I"" users will find the basics unchanged.Professionals start with ""TPBA2"", a comprehensive, easy-to-follow guide to assessment with in-depth child development information. While the child engages in natural play with a parent, professionals use the practical guidelines and useful developmental information to assess 4 domains - sensorimotor, emotional and social, communication and language, and cognition - and gather qualitative information about what the child can do.Then, with ""TBPI2"", professionals partner with parents to choose customized play-based interventions that help children make progress across domains and generalize their new skills in different situations and settings.All forms needed to execute ""TPBA2"" and ""TPBI2"" are included in the manuals and are photocopiable. For ease of use, the forms are also sold separately. Paper forms come in a gummed tablet that includes one each of the 7 essential forms needed for assessment and intervention (one tablet per child).

About this title

About the Author

Dr. Toni Linder is Professor Emeritus in the Child, Family, and School Psychology Program at the Morgridge College of Education at the University of Denver in Denver, Colorado. Dr. Linder has been a leader in the development of authentic assessment for young children and is known for her work on Transdisciplinary Play-Based Assessment and Transdisciplinary Play-Based Intervention (1990, 1993, 2008). In addition, she developed Read, Play, and Learn (1999), an inclusive, literature and play-based curriculum for preschool and kindergarten learning and development. She consults nationally and internationally on assessment, intervention, early childhood education, program development, and family involvement issues. Dr. Linder has conducted research on a variety of issues, including transdisciplinary influences on development, parent-child interaction, curriculum outcomes, and using technology for professional development in rural areas.

In 2012 Dr. Linder formed Early Learning Dynamics LLC to serve as a platform for her continuing consulting, curriculum development, and play-based assessments. Dr. Linder will use Early Learning Dynamics to serve children worldwide.

Excerpt. © Reprinted by permission. All rights reserved.

Excerpted from Chapters 1 and 3 of Transdisciplinary Play-Based Assessment, Second Edition by Toni Linder, Ed.D. with invited contributors.

Copyright © 2008 by Paul H. Brookes Publishing Co. All rights reserved. No part of this excerpt may be reproduced or reprinted without permission in writing from the publisher.

The first edition of Transdisciplinary Play-Based Assessment (1990) presented a comparison of assessment by a multidisciplinary team using traditional approaches and transdisciplinary Play-Based assessment (TPBA) using a team conducting a play assessment together. Over the years, many people have commented on how the vignette presented in the beginning of the book opened their eyes to what their assessments might be like for the children they assessed. The vignette is presented again in this revised edition to illustrate how different the assessment process can be for children and families. Chapter 1 in the Administration Guide discusses why theory, research, and legislation are now dictating that assessment of young children should be natural, functional, and responsive to child and family needs.

TRADITIONAL ASSESSMENT

Imagine yourself as a 3-year-old child who has been referred to a developmental center for assessment because of suspected developmental delays. Both your mother and father have come with you to a place called "the Center."

When you walk in the door, a woman meets you and takes you to her office. You sit on your mom's lap while the woman behind the desk asks your mom and dad questions about your birth and your first 3 years of life. Your mom and dad sound worried and your mom even cries when she talks about you. You feel sad and think that something about you must be making her cry.

After a while, another woman comes to take you to "play some games." Your mom and dad tell you to go with the "nice lady" and it will be fun. The nice lady takes your hand. You walk down the hall with her to a small room with a table and two wooden chairs and some pictures on the wall. You don't see any games anywhere. Then the lady pulls out a suitcase and starts to put things like blocks and puzzles in front of you. She then asks you to do certain things with them. At first this is fun, but after a while the lady asks you to do some things that are not so much fun. It's hard. You tell her this, but she just keeps putting things that are not fun in front of you. She also asks you questions that you can't answer. You want to go back to your mommy and daddy, but the lady keeps saying that you'll be finished soon. "Soon" is a long time. Finally, the lady says that you're all done playing games. You feel relieved! This lady doesn't know much about how to have fun!

After a necessary potty break and a few tears, the lady lets you see your mommy and daddy. But not for long. Here comes another lady to take you to another little room with another table and chairs and different pictures on the wall. This lady doesn't talk much. She just keeps putting pictures in front of you and asking you what they are. Many of the pictures are things that you have seen, but you just don't know what to call them. So you look down at the floor and up at the pictures on the wall. You pull on your shirt and wiggle a lot. You wish this lady would quit with the pictures. You've seen more than enough pictures. Then the lady gets out another suitcase, only it's a different color. She pulls out a couple of toys at a time and tells you what she wants you to do with them. Some of these are neat toys, and you'd really like to play with them. Every time you start to do something other than what the lady told you to do, however, she takes the toys away. This lady sure is stingy. You are getting tired, so you put your head down on the table. The lady makes you sit up. Finally, she is through. She takes you back to your mommy and daddy and tells them that you were "somewhat resistant."

Mom and Dad look worried, so when they ask, you tell them you had fun playing games with the ladies. That was a mistake. In the car they tell you that you are coming back tomorrow for some more games! When you tell them you don't want to go back, you didn't like the ladies, they say tomorrow you will play with another nice lady.

Wrong. The next day a man comes out to meet you. He says you are going to play some more fun games. You are not convinced. This time you go to a big room with many stairs and boards that wobble and boards that don't wobble and hanging nets and balls and all kinds of neat stuff. You think that maybe this will be fun! You run and jump and climb the stairs and are generally having a great time. Then the man puts you up on a big ball and tries to make you fall off. At least that is how it feels, though the man keeps saying he won't let you fall. You don't trust him. You want your mommy and daddy, so you cry. Then the man makes your arms and legs go different directions and bounces you around some. This doesn't seem fun anymore. The man is nice enough. He just doesn't know when to stop! You cry louder, and finally the man says, "We've had enough for today." He's right about that.

You go back to your mommy and daddy who are still sitting with that worried look on their faces. They tell you that they will take you to get a hamburger for being so good. You don't tell them that you weren't really that good. They don't need to know everything.

TRANSDISCIPLINARY PLAY-BASED ASSESSMENT

You are still the same 3-year-old child who has been referred for evaluation due to suspected developmental delays. As you enter the Center, you are greeted by the same woman who came out to your house to talk to your mommy and play with you. This time, however, she takes you to a large room containing many different toys. A playhouse is in one corner, an area with blocks and cars is in another, a table with puzzles and little toys is in another, and a water table with toys is in another. Wow! All your favorite things!

Hey! This place is neat! Mommy is holding your hand, but you let go and run to the dollhouse area. It has a sink, refrigerator, and stove just like at home, only smaller. And it has dolls and beds and dishes and telephones. You look in the refrigerator. There's a birthday cake with candles! Suddenly you notice another lady next to you. She says, "Oh, you found the birthday cake!" She doesn't even seem to mind when you take the cake out of the refrigerator and pull out all of the candles. "Maybe we should invite some babies to a party," she says. "Yeah!" You pick up a doll and give her a piece of cake. The lady does the same thing with her baby. She says her baby is hungry. You say your baby is hungry. too. Well, actually, you say "ungy," but she seems to understand. She pours more "milk" in your baby's cup. You and the lady play together in the house. Sometimes she does what you do, and sometimes you look at her and do what she does. You think she is a nice lady.

All of a sudden you remember your mommy and daddy. You look around and see them sitting there watching you. They are talking to the other lady. A man is also watching you and he has a video camera. You say "hi" to Mommy and Daddy. The lady hands you a telephone and tells you Mommy and Daddy are on the phone. You talk to Mommy and Daddy, who say, "Hi, are you having fun playing?" Then you talk to the lady who is playing with you. The two of you have lots of fun dressing the dolls for bed, brushing their teeth, combing their hair, and putting them to bed. Every once in a while you check to see if Mommy and Daddy are still there. They are

.

A little boy comes into the playhouse. You don't know who invited him, but he wants to play with the toys, too. The play lady says he wants to play with you. As long as he doesn't take your doll, it's okay with you. He plays with the dishes and cooks. He pours juice and gives you some. You take it but go back to putting your doll to bed. The play lady gives the boy some dishes and he puts them on the table. He says that dinner is ready, so you go to the table with your baby. You feed your baby. The boy talks to you, but you don't answer. You just don't feel like talking to him. After a while he wanders off to play somewhere else. That's okay with you.

Then the play lady goes over to the water table with her doll and starts to wash her doll. That looks like fun, so you go, too. You wash the doll for a while, and then you play with the water wheel, boats, funnels, and other fun stuff. When you get tired of this, you go over to see what's in the block area. This is fun, too. You and the play lady build bridges, drive cars over a road, put gas in your cars, have a car crash, and get the cars fixed. This place sure has nice toys.

Your mommy and daddy tell you they are leaving to get a cup of coffee and they'll be right back. You watch them go and are a little worried, but you don't mind staying here with the play lady. After a few minutes Mommy and Daddy come back, and Daddy comes over to play with you. You show him the cars, and you both drive them and crash them off bridges and laugh. Then Mommy comes over to show you some things at the table. The two of you put puzzles together. Some of them are hard and Mommy helps you. Mommy is a good helper. Then you and Mommy draw pictures, count the lines you drew and read a book. It's fun to have Mommy and Daddy playing too.

When you're all done with your pictures and puzzles, the play lady takes all of you to another room with stairs, boards that wobble, boards that don't wobble, hanging nets, balls, and tricycles. You run and jump and climb up and down the stairs. The play lady throws the ball to you and your daddy and mommy. You get the play lady to follow you up and over and through things. This play lady sure is a good sport! When she looks all worn out, you give her a rest. You try to ride the tricycle, but it's too hard. The play lady and your daddy toss you around in the air. You play with a big ball, and you and Daddy take turns bouncing and rolling on it.

After everyone is all worn out, including you, all of you go back to the playroom. There is a snack of crackers and juice in the middle of the table and the little boy is there. The play lady lets you pour the juice and put yellow cheese on the crackers. You give some to the boy and take some for yourself. You try to give some to Mommy and Daddy, but they don't seem too interested. The play lady talks to you and the boy. You ask the boy if he wants more. He seems to be a pretty nice boy after all.

After you're all done eating and drinking, the play lady says it's time to go. You are tired, but you'd still like to play with those cars some more. The play lady says maybe another day. That sounds good to you. How about tomorrow?

ALMOST 20 YEARS LATER

Although much has changed since 1990, rigid testing procedures are still used, and even required, in some states. TPBA is the same in many ways, but it has evolved as well. Now TPBA may be done just as easily in the home, in a classroom, or in a community setting. Parents may be the primary play facilitators more frequently, and they will have more involvement before, during, and after the assessment. The process, however, remains much the same: a child- and family-friendly assessment resulting in practical, meaningful information. Whereas the Administration Guide for TPBA2 & TPBI2 describes the total TPBA process and administration, including discussion of how to obtain preliminary information, presentation of strategies for talking to families and facilitating play with children, and ways to summarize data and integrate them into a report, this volume, Transdisciplinary Play-Based Assessment, Second Edition (TPBA2), includes detailed chapters with research and literature describing significant aspects of each domain. These chapters are extensive, providing a review of the literature for each of the subcategories as well as guidelines for observation and interpretation of information obtained. Extensive Age Tables are also provided, noting age ranges for acquisition of skills and the outer ages by which time a skill should be demonstrated. These chapters provide the heart of the TPBA2 assessment process. They should be read carefully so that the rationale for the TPBA2 Observation Guidelines and the implications for services and intervention needs are fully understood. The third volume of this system, Transdisciplinary Play-Based Intervention, Second Edition(TPBI2), presents a process for planning, implementing, and evaluating intervention for children from birth to 6 years of age who need supports to enhance their development by providing a framework for conceptualizing intervention strategies and a means for monitoring and evaluating the effectiveness of the strategies selected.

Edition details

• Publisher: Brookes Screening & Assessment
• Publication date: 2008
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 155766871X
• ISBN 13: 9781557668714
• Binding: Spiral-bound
• Edition number: 2
• Number of pages: 424