Teaching Preschoolers to Self-Assess Their Choices in Pre-K

Abstract

Young children have the capability of making decisions, informed choices, and self-assessing their progress on their choices. In this classroom of 4- and 5-year-olds, children used pictorial contracts, rubrics, and various self-assessment techniques as a method for continuous learning. Gathering and reflecting on their own evidence about their accomplishments created a reflective loop by which the child evaluated their work, made revisions and ultimately applied the criteria to other conditions. Children in this prekindergarten classroom learned to reflect on their own knowledge. It is not only intrinsically motivating but offers young children a systematic approach to further their involvement in their learning in a developmentally appropriate and engaging environment.

Children's Perceptions of Pretend Play Over Time

“…The laboratory school where the participants of the study attended utilized play plans as a part of their classroom curriculum. Warash and Workman (2016), staff present at the laboratory school, incorporated play plans into their curriculum to provide children with an opportunity to plan what they wanted to play that day. With the help of a teacher, children drew what they were going to play, and wrote their ideas on their play plan.…”

“…With the help of a teacher, children drew what they were going to play, and wrote their ideas on their play plan. The teachers encouraged children to come up with a plan which stimulated involvement in that activity (Warash & Workman, 2016).…”

“…Allowing children to set their own goals could motivate them, while having a parent set the goal could cause children to become stressed (Stipek, Recchia, & McClintic, 1992). Warash and Workman (2016), implemented rubrics into their laboratory classroom to provide the children with a way to evaluate their work. The authors had previously set in place various ways for children to keep track of their achievements, utilizing play plans and contracts as forms of goal setting with their students.…”

“…Using self-assessment provided the children with the ability to evaluate their work and encouraged them to discuss areas in which they could improve. The authors also highlighted the fact that when using self-assessment, children did not have to fear the ridicule or judgement of a teacher analyzing their work (Warash & Workman, 2016).…”