Learning
Descriptions
Learning descriptions are an assessment tool used for identifying an individual student's strengths and needs in various content and developmental areas. These descriptions, which consist of listings of abilities and accomplishments that are developmentally appropriate, indicate where children begin in their learning and the stages through which they progress as they achieve proficiency. Using these descriptions, teachers can document students' patterns of growth over time in reading, writing, math, science, social studies, art, music, social and emotional development, and physical skills. Teachers also can use learning descriptions to communicate with parents and families.
By providing information on the full spectrum of development in any one area, learning descriptions provide teachers with valuable information for instructional planning Learning descriptions allow teachers to design instruction that meets the needs of individual students and to monitor their progress. By comparing children's development to these learning descriptions, teachers can ensure that children who are not progressing can be monitored and assisted, and older children remain challenged (M. McCullough at Kentucky Department of Education, personal communication, June 16, 1995).
Learning descriptions may be based on national, state, or local content
standards. The state of Kentucky, for example, uses learning descriptions
in conjunction with the Kentucky Elementary Learning Profile, a systematic
assessment approach for the Kentucky Primary Program. For each learning
description, the teacher can note a student's progress along a developmental
continuum: beginning, developing, competent, and expanding. For an example, refer
to the Reading Learning Description of the Kentucky
Elementary Learning Profile.
Accessable version of the Reading Learning Description
