Default Style Register
Daycare.com Forum
Daycare Center and Family Home Forum>Conferences And Conference And/Or Assessment Forms
melilley 10:01 AM 07-09-2013
Do any of you hold conferences for your fcc? If you do, what are some things that you discuss. Do you think that they are beneficial?

Honestly I talk to the parents everyday and let them know what is going on with their children and what we need to work on (I know I should use an official assessment form, but I've just been observing them) or things to watch for so I haven't had any conferences yet and didn't really think about holding any "official" conferences until I found out that I have to for points for the Stars program in my state. I wouldn't mind doing them, I just don't know what to talk about with parents when I talk to them everyday.

Would anyone mind sharing their conference form with me and/or an assessment form that you use. I did conferences at the center that I worked at in the past, but we had to go on the company's own assessment and conference forms and I can't remember one thing on them.

I found assessment forms on the CDC website. Does anyone use the forms from them?

Thank You
Reply
kendallina 10:26 AM 07-09-2013
I do conferences. Technically, I run a morning preschool, so the parents expect them, but really, I find them incredibly helpful, so I would do them regardless.

For me, the conferences take about 20-40 minutes and I usually will jot down a few notes beforehand. We talk about their development, socially and emotionally. We talk about kindergarten readiness stuff (colors, numbers, letters, following directions, etc). I also go over the state's preschool guidelines a little with them and talk about how we meet these while they're in preschool with me. It's pretty relaxed and I try to keep it informal and just a chat. I also make sure that I share something cute/funny/smart that their kid has done recently and something that we're working on. I ask for help from mom and dad if needed and also make sure I answer any questions for them. It's also a time that I try and get feedback from them, "were there any themes that Johnny liked in particular this year? Do you have any suggestions for..." That's basically it. I do have a portfolio that I do for each child, so some of this conversation happens while they're looking at pictures of their kiddo.

I have to say, that I sometimes kind of dread conferences (you know, it's just more people in my house/have to make sure the house is clean/ etc etc etc), but I always feel energized and so good about our conversations. It helps keep communication open and helps us feel so much more comfortable with each other. I always do a conference in Oct or Nov and sometimes do one in the spring for the parents that want one.

Not sure if that helps much, but that's how I do it.
Reply
EntropyControlSpecialist 10:30 AM 07-09-2013
I do not do conferences (I have only done 1 when I wanted a child to be evaluated), but I do send home assessments in December, March, and May for the year. I have all preschool aged children here and the parents like to see their child's progress documented.
Reply
melilley 10:35 AM 07-09-2013
Originally Posted by kendallina:
I do conferences. Technically, I run a morning preschool, so the parents expect them, but really, I find them incredibly helpful, so I would do them regardless.

For me, the conferences take about 20-40 minutes and I usually will jot down a few notes beforehand. We talk about their development, socially and emotionally. We talk about kindergarten readiness stuff (colors, numbers, letters, following directions, etc). I also go over the state's preschool guidelines a little with them and talk about how we meet these while they're in preschool with me. It's pretty relaxed and I try to keep it informal and just a chat. I also make sure that I share something cute/funny/smart that their kid has done recently and something that we're working on. I ask for help from mom and dad if needed and also make sure I answer any questions for them. It's also a time that I try and get feedback from them, "were there any themes that Johnny liked in particular this year? Do you have any suggestions for..." That's basically it. I do have a portfolio that I do for each child, so some of this conversation happens while they're looking at pictures of their kiddo.

I have to say, that I sometimes kind of dread conferences (you know, it's just more people in my house/have to make sure the house is clean/ etc etc etc), but I always feel energized and so good about our conversations. It helps keep communication open and helps us feel so much more comfortable with each other. I always do a conference in Oct or Nov and sometimes do one in the spring for the parents that want one.

Not sure if that helps much, but that's how I do it.
Do you know where to find the state's preschool guidelines?
Reply
Blackcat31 10:43 AM 07-09-2013
Originally Posted by melilley:
Do you know where to find the state's preschool guidelines?
Is this what you are looking for?

http://www.michigan.gov/mde/0,1607,7...3343--,00.html

or maybe this http://www.teachingstrategies.com/co..._ALIGNMENT.pdf

Sorry, I am probably way off base but that's all I've got...
Reply
melilley 10:50 AM 07-09-2013
Originally Posted by Blackcat31:
Is this what you are looking for?

http://www.michigan.gov/mde/0,1607,7...3343--,00.html

or maybe this http://www.teachingstrategies.com/co..._ALIGNMENT.pdf

Sorry, I am probably way off base but that's all I've got...
Sounds like it, but their site is messed up and the link doesn't work. Honestly, I have no idea what to look for. I have to do assessments on the kids and have conferences for the Stars program and all of my children are 2.5 and under so I'm not quite sure what to look for or what to use to assess them. It just says to show proof of an assessment tool used. I'm so confused!
Thank you though!
Reply
daycarediva 11:02 AM 07-09-2013
Originally Posted by EntropyControlSpecialist:
I do not do conferences (I have only done 1 when I wanted a child to be evaluated), but I do send home assessments in December, March, and May for the year. I have all preschool aged children here and the parents like to see their child's progress documented.
this, right down to the months the reports are sent home.
Reply
melilley 11:14 AM 07-09-2013
Originally Posted by EntropyControlSpecialist:
I do not do conferences (I have only done 1 when I wanted a child to be evaluated), but I do send home assessments in December, March, and May for the year. I have all preschool aged children here and the parents like to see their child's progress documented.
If you don't mind, what assessment tool(s) do you use or do you make your own?
Reply
Blackcat31 12:13 PM 07-09-2013
Originally Posted by melilley:
Sounds like it, but their site is messed up and the link doesn't work. Honestly, I have no idea what to look for. I have to do assessments on the kids and have conferences for the Stars program and all of my children are 2.5 and under so I'm not quite sure what to look for or what to use to assess them. It just says to show proof of an assessment tool used. I'm so confused!
Thank you though!
Our state's Star rating system HIGHLY recommends that we use Teaching Strategies Gold for early childhood as one of the aligned curricula....they have an extensive (but easy) assessment method...

It might be worth looking into. http://www.teachingstrategies.com/pa...d-overview.cfm
Reply
EntropyControlSpecialist 12:17 PM 07-09-2013
Originally Posted by melilley:
If you don't mind, what assessment tool(s) do you use or do you make your own?
If you PM me your e-mail address I will attach the exact assessment I use to an e-mail and send it off to you.
Reply
EntropyControlSpecialist 12:20 PM 07-09-2013
Originally Posted by Blackcat31:
Our state's Star rating system HIGHLY recommends that we use Teaching Strategies Gold for early childhood as one of the aligned curricula....they have an extensive (but easy) assessment method...

It might be worth looking into. http://www.teachingstrategies.com/pa...d-overview.cfm
That looks neat. Do you have any idea about their pricing?
Reply
Blackcat31 12:25 PM 07-09-2013
Originally Posted by EntropyControlSpecialist:
That looks neat. Do you have any idea about their pricing?
Yeah, super expensive....

$199.95 for the assessment tool kit

http://www.teachingstrategies.com/pa...nt-toolkit.cfm
Reply
originalkat 12:50 PM 07-09-2013
I only do conferences for my Pre-K kids in October in order to set goals and help the parent gain a better understanding of where their child is in prep for KG. I fill out an assessment throughout the year and send them home in May. I personally hate doing them. Im not sure if the parents like them or not. But I think its important especially for the older ones.
Reply
daycare 12:52 PM 07-09-2013
I have never done them. I was told that here in my State that we are not allowed to do them unless we have been educated and taught how......

I do them for my own records, but do not share the information with the parents...

Did you have to take a class to learn to do the assessments?>
Reply
Blackcat31 01:02 PM 07-09-2013
Originally Posted by daycare:

Did you have to take a class to learn to do the assessments?>
According to my state's QRIS (Parent Aware) star rating system, a provider MUST take a course on how to assess a child's progress.

They offer the class through them.

I took a complete 3 credit course called "Observation and Assessment" when earning my degree.
Reply
daycare 01:05 PM 07-09-2013
Originally Posted by Blackcat31:
According to my state's QRIS (Parent Aware) star rating system, a provider MUST take a course on how to assess a child's progress.

They offer the class through them.

I took a complete 3 credit course called "Observation and Assessment" when earning my degree.
got ya.... I have never taking a class like that, but would really like to.....
Reply
Childminder 01:08 PM 07-09-2013
Originally Posted by daycare:
I have never done them. I was told that here in my State that we are not allowed to do them unless we have been educated and taught how......

I do them for my own records, but do not share the information with the parents...

Did you have to take a class to learn to do the assessments?>
That is how it used to be here in MI but now we are being told as FCC's we must do these assessments and have home visits and conferences with parents.

I am not a preschool and most children move on to preschool from daycare.
Reply
daycare 01:12 PM 07-09-2013
Originally Posted by Childminder:
That is how it used to be here in MI but now we are being told as FCC's we must do these assessments and have home visits and conferences with parents.

I am not a preschool and most children move on to preschool from daycare.
oh wow.....I would love to do a sit down conference, I always wonder........would the parents eyes be more open? Would they really listen to what I had to say and try to get on the same page?????

But until I can do this, I won't know.....lol
Reply
Childminder 01:12 PM 07-09-2013
Originally Posted by daycare:
I have never done them. I was told that here in my State that we are not allowed to do them unless we have been educated and taught how......

I do them for my own records, but do not share the information with the parents...

Did you have to take a class to learn to do the assessments?>
That is how it used to be here in MI but now we are being told as FCC's we must do these assessments and have home visits and conferences with parents.

I am not a preschool and most children move on to preschool from daycare.
Here is one OP that I just found that seems basic and one I am comfortable using.
http://www.prekinders.com/assessment-forms/
Reply
originalkat 02:43 PM 07-09-2013
Originally Posted by daycare:
I have never done them. I was told that here in my State that we are not allowed to do them unless we have been educated and taught how......

I do them for my own records, but do not share the information with the parents...

Did you have to take a class to learn to do the assessments?>
My state does not have a requirement like that, but I have taken a 3 credit hour class called Assessing Young children.
Reply
EntropyControlSpecialist 03:30 PM 07-09-2013
Originally Posted by daycare:
I have never done them. I was told that here in my State that we are not allowed to do them unless we have been educated and taught how......

I do them for my own records, but do not share the information with the parents...

Did you have to take a class to learn to do the assessments?>
I have a teaching degree and this is something we learned in a class. But, my state does not require it and I can't say that I found it extremely useful either. I think you could learn how to assess properly from reading.
Reply
EntropyControlSpecialist 03:31 PM 07-09-2013
Originally Posted by Blackcat31:
Yeah, super expensive....

$199.95 for the assessment tool kit

http://www.teachingstrategies.com/pa...nt-toolkit.cfm
Maybe I'll hold off until my own state begins implementing requirements. With luck, they would assist in the cost of an assessment kit like that.

Is your state assisting y'all in these costs?
Reply
daycare 03:35 PM 07-09-2013
Originally Posted by EntropyControlSpecialist:
I have a teaching degree and this is something we learned in a class. But, my state does not require it and I can't say that I found it extremely useful either. I think you could learn how to assess properly from reading.
I am not sure if it even allowed without the proper training.....someone please correct me if I am wrong. Perhaps I may have been misinformed?????
Reply
Blackcat31 04:02 PM 07-09-2013
Originally Posted by EntropyControlSpecialist:
Maybe I'll hold off until my own state begins implementing requirements. With luck, they would assist in the cost of an assessment kit like that.

Is your state assisting y'all in these costs?
Yes, we get grants to improve the quality of care and purchasing an approved curriculum counts. Thank goodness.
Reply
melilley 08:15 PM 07-09-2013
Thank you so much everyone!
I don't think MI has any grants to help offset these costs nor does it require us to have any training to properly assess children. I do have a degree in child development, but I don't think that I had to take a particular class to do assessments. For our stars program, we must assess the children in order to get a point towards a higher rating, but in my opinion they need to have a standard assessment form that everyone has to use.
Reply
Childminder 08:40 AM 07-10-2013
I have been researching also as I am in MI and must do this too, here is another one I found:
http://www.abcjesuslovesme.com/which...ost-checklists

and this is a nice overview of some published by the State of PA.:
http://www.pakeys.org/docs/EarlyChildhoodAssessment.pdf

Personally I would like to do HighScope's but it takes training and $$$:
http://www.highscope.org/Content.asp?ContentId=85
http://www.highscope.org/file/Assess...s_9-26-11.pdf:


Here are some inexpensive ones for preK:
http://www.pre-kpages.com/student-assessment/

This is from Federal program Zero to Three:
http://www.zerotothree.org/public-po...t-module-2.pdf
Reply
Starburst 09:04 AM 07-10-2013
I am not sure if this would help but this is what my state uses and I think it's pretty easy to follow (had to do the preschooler one for 2 classes). It's free (but 50+ pages), but you can also print out a key chain version which helps to save paper and easier to carry around.

http://www.desiredresults.us/form_drdp.htm

ETA:
Originally Posted by daycare:
I have never done them. I was told that here in my State that we are not allowed to do them unless we have been educated and taught how......

I do them for my own records, but do not share the information with the parents...

Did you have to take a class to learn to do the assessments?>
Originally Posted by daycare:
oh wow.....I would love to do a sit down conference, I always wonder........would the parents eyes be more open? Would they really listen to what I had to say and try to get on the same page?????

But until I can do this, I won't know.....lol

Originally Posted by daycare:
I am not sure if it even allowed without the proper training.....someone please correct me if I am wrong. Perhaps I may have been misinformed?????
I never heard of that, but I did take 2 classes where we had to use the assessment sheets (observing young children and creating curriculum) and its not really that hard to use (its basically just milestone/stages and their mastery level).

And part of the observation class included having a conference with the parents. I never though about doing a sit down confence before that class but now I plan on doing one for all the children I will watch that are noy school-age (they have one for infants and toddlers too). I would probably only do scheduled conferences maybe 2 or 3 times a year for preschoolers (beggining and end of school year and maybe 1 conference 1/2 way through to chart progress) and maybe once or twice a year for infants (unless the child is special needs). The teacher for the observation class said that a conference should be about 1/2 hour long, no more than 45 minutes (she used to be the director of a center). She also said its good to keep a clock in your view behind the parent so you can keep an eye on it but not look impatient by looking at your watch or cell phone for the time.
Reply
melilley 10:29 AM 07-10-2013
Originally Posted by Childminder:
I have been researching also as I am in MI and must do this too, here is another one I found:
http://www.abcjesuslovesme.com/which...ost-checklists

and this is a nice overview of some published by the State of PA.:
http://www.pakeys.org/docs/EarlyChildhoodAssessment.pdf

Personally I would like to do HighScope's but it takes training and $$$:
http://www.highscope.org/Content.asp?ContentId=85
http://www.highscope.org/file/Assess...s_9-26-11.pdf:


Here are some inexpensive ones for preK:
http://www.pre-kpages.com/student-assessment/

This is from Federal program Zero to Three:
http://www.zerotothree.org/public-po...t-module-2.pdf

Thank you so much for the links! Here are a few websites to share with you. Do you think they will work for the Stars program?

Website http://www.wchob.org/ecdc

http://www.cdc.gov/actearly
Reply
melilley 11:53 AM 07-10-2013
Originally Posted by melilley:
Thank you so much for the links! Here are a few websites to share with you. Do you think they will work for the Stars program?

Website http://www.wchob.org/ecdc

http://www.cdc.gov/actearly


Never mind ChildMinder. When you go to complete the SAS through greatstart, they provide a list of approved assessment tools when you check the box saying that you use approved assessment tools. I didn't realize this until today!
Reply
melilley 11:56 AM 07-10-2013
Originally Posted by Childminder:
I have been researching also as I am in MI and must do this too, here is another one I found:
http://www.abcjesuslovesme.com/which...ost-checklists

and this is a nice overview of some published by the State of PA.:
http://www.pakeys.org/docs/EarlyChildhoodAssessment.pdf

Personally I would like to do HighScope's but it takes training and $$$:
http://www.highscope.org/Content.asp?ContentId=85
http://www.highscope.org/file/Assess...s_9-26-11.pdf:


Here are some inexpensive ones for preK:
http://www.pre-kpages.com/student-assessment/

This is from Federal program Zero to Three:
http://www.zerotothree.org/public-po...t-module-2.pdf

I know I'm double posting this, but when you go to complete the SAS through Great Start, they actually give a list of approved assessment tools when you check the box saying that you use them. I didn't realize this until today! It looks like almost all are assessments that you have to pay for. Have you done or started your SAS yet? If you have, am I correct?
Reply
Childminder 07:32 PM 07-10-2013
Originally Posted by :
I know I'm double posting this, but when you go to complete the SAS through Great Start, they actually give a list of approved assessment tools when you check the box saying that you use them. I didn't realize this until today! It looks like almost all are assessments that you have to pay for. Have you done or started your SAS yet? If you have, am I correct?
I had started my SAS and remember seeing that. I am going through my license renewal right now and trying to upgrade to group. I pretty much put SAS on backburner as I can't find the time to get everything done at once. Too bad we can't get compensated for all of the time and money we invest in trainings and such. It's not as if we can get a raise, kwim. The state has put so many restrictions and my income decreases each year.
Reply
melilley 09:56 AM 07-11-2013
Originally Posted by Childminder:
I had started my SAS and remember seeing that. I am going through my license renewal right now and trying to upgrade to group. I pretty much put SAS on backburner as I can't find the time to get everything done at once. Too bad we can't get compensated for all of the time and money we invest in trainings and such. It's not as if we can get a raise, kwim. The state has put so many restrictions and my income decreases each year.
I know exactly what you mean! And then the SAS scores last for 2 years before you can get another star rating. Ridiculous! Good luck with your group license!
Reply
Tags:conferences, fcc, grants
Reply Up