Guest Posted June 27, 2017 Posted June 27, 2017 Hello everyone I have been teaching in Early Years for 9 years - I never claim to know everything, but recently I have doubted all that I thought I knew. We use the dev matters for our assessment - entering developing secure - throughout the year. I am currently working with a leading teacher, who seems to be looking at every single statement within each band eg reading - knows print carries meaning and In English print is read from left to right. If a child has more or less all the statements in that band, but hasn't shown they know print carries meaning ie points to print as they 'read', are they said to be working within(developing) or secure? I was always under the impression the dev matters was a 'best fit' document, but this teacher seems to see it as a tick list. I am now very confused. I would be grateful if anyone can offer any advice on this. Thanks Jane
AnonyMouse_14268 Posted June 27, 2017 Posted June 27, 2017 I am certainly no expert and doubt myself on a regular basis! But I use it as a best fit, using all my knowledge of that child. Do you remember the old 'I can' statements from a good few years ago, these were a tick list and I was so glad when they were scrapped as all anyone ever saw was what couldn't be done. I think this could be the negative side of using Dev matters as a tick list. I am sure some wiser forum friends will be along to explain there use of it and what they think, but it's definitely best fit in my book.
AnonyMouse_3307 Posted June 27, 2017 Posted June 27, 2017 it's non statutory guidance and it just describes some of the things a child might typically do within that age range. You have to bear in mind that a 30 - 50 range is from from 2 yrs 6 months to 4 years 2 months so to say a child is secure in those individual skills could be somewhat age related anyway. Some of the statements will be for a younger expectation and some an older one. 40 to 60+ is equally 3 yrs 4 months to when a child leaves reception at possibly 5 yrs 10 months. again this is a vast age range. So any individual statement could be earlier or later development. You really need to be best fitting in my opinion. Cx 2
FSFRebecca Posted June 28, 2017 Posted June 28, 2017 Perhaps your colleague would like to read Nancy Stewart's article about not using the DM document as a checklist. Nancy was part of the original writing team for Development Matters and so if she says it isn't a ticklist, then it isn't! Development Matters: A landscape of possibilities, not a roadmap 2
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