Work Sampling

The Work Sampling System is a widely recognized, research based, performance assessment used to document children’s skills, knowledge, behavior, and accomplishments across a variety of curriculum areas on multiple occasions in order to enhance teaching and learning. The teachers at Just Kids use the Work Sampling System along with the essential components of Developmental Guidelines and Checklists, Portfolios, and Summary Reports.

Developmental Guidelines and Checklists are used to give teachers a set of observational criteria based on national standards and knowledge of child development. Teachers use explicit criteria and professional judgment to make decisions about a child’s behavior, knowledge, and accomplishments in the curriculum domains of Personal and Social Development, Language and Literacy, Mathematical Thinking, Scientific Thinking, Social Studies, Physical Development, and the Arts.

Portfolios are collections of two types of work samples intended to display the individual nature and quality of children’s work, progress, and achievements over time. Portfolios are created by the teachers for each child and include items illustrating growth, work quality, and each child’s uniqueness. 

Pictures are drawn and notes are taken as students observe insects.