The Words We Use:  A Glossary of Terms for Early Childhood Education Standards and Assessment INFORMAL ASSESSMENT » Definition » Related Terms (Not Synonyms) » Explanatory Comments » Web Sources » Other Resources Definition A procedure for obtaining information that can be used to make judgments about characteristics of children or programs using means other than standardized instruments. Related Terms (Not Synonyms) Alternative assessment; Assessment; Authentic assessment; Developmental assessment; Evaluation; Formal Assessment; Observational assessment; Performance-based assessment; Portfolio assessment; Standards-based assessment; Test Explanatory Comments The term is also used to describe assessment instruments not considered to be "formal," that is, those which are standardized and/or norm-referenced. There is wide agreement among researchers that the younger the child, the greater the rationale for using more informal assessment processes. Informal assessment processes generally take place on a continuous basis and in natural classroom conditions. Carefully crafted informal assessment can be used in consistent and valid ways. Web Sources ERIC Processing and Reference Facility. Thesaurus: Informal assessment. Retrieved May 19, 2003, from http://www.ericfacility.net/extra/pub/thesfull.cfm?TERM=Informal%20Assessment Other Resources Johnston, P.H., & Rogers, R. (2001). Assessment of Literacy Development in Early Childhood. In S. Neuman & D. Dickinson (Eds.). Handbook of Early Literacy Research, New York, NY: Guilford Publications, Inc. Wolf, K.P. (1993). From informal to informed assessment: Recognizing the role of the classroom teacher. Journal of Reading, 36 (7), p. 518-523. » Back to List of Terms

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document last updated 8/21/2009