Using GOLD for Kindergarten Entry Assessment in the Time of COVID-19

As you are preparing to return to school—virtually, in person, or a hybrid of the two—no doubt you are working at hurried speeds to plan meaningful learning experiences for children. Regardless of your school’s or program’s model of instructional delivery this year, effective teaching depends on responsive planning; responsive planning depends on formative assessment; and formative assessment depends on authentic observation of children’s demonstrated knowledge, skills, and abilities. The question, then, is this: How do you collect authentic, observation-based data when you are providing instruction remotely?