• Teaching Strategies Gold

    Overview:

    Prek classroom teachers implement Teaching Strategies GOLD® . It is an observation-based formative assessment that includes developmental progressions across all areas of development and is aligned with the NC Foundations for Early Learning and Development.  Within an online platform, teachers document students' learning and development to substantiate a child's skill attainment along the developmental progressions.

    Teachers utilize the data to personalize instruction for students. Teaching Strategies GOLD® utilizes widely held expectations for children birth through third grade. These are displayed as color-coded progressions and can assist teachers in bridging assessment and instruction. 

    The NC Department of Public Instruction recognizes formative assessment as an important component of a 21st Century Balanced Assessment System and has dedicated resources to support its use in NC schools. The formative assessment process as defined by the CCSSO is: “Formative assessment is a planned, ongoing process used by all students and teachers during learning and teaching to elicit and use evidence of student learning to improve student understanding of intended disciplinary learning outcomes and support students to become self-directed learners.

    Effective use of the formative assessment process requires students and teachers to integrate and embed the following practices in a collaborative and respectful classroom environment:

    • Clarifying learning goals and success criteria within a broader progression of learning;
    • Eliciting and analyzing evidence of student thinking;
    • Engaging in self-assessment and peer feedback;
    • Providing actionable feedback; and
    • Using evidence and feedback to move learning forward by adjusting learning strategies, goals, or next instructional steps.”

    Important: Need to Know

    I.  PreK Student Transition Report:

    In accordance with the Excellent Public Schools Act of 2021, a formative assessment must be administered at the end of the Pre-K school year, and the results of the assessment must be shared with the receiving kindergarten teacher. Transition Reports created by Pre-K teachers in Teaching Strategies GOLD® will be transferred to receiving kindergarten teachers via the NC Early Learning Inventory as the new school year begins, providing information about a child's knowledge, skills, and abilities related to Widely Held Expectations for child development.

    II.  How to Complete the Transition Report

    • The Transition Report can be accessed through the Family Section of the Teaching Strategies GOLD® platform.
    • The report is populated using the completed Spring Checkpoint data and is supplemented with teacher-provided information.
    • To review a recording of a webinar for Pre-K teachers click here (password is 9WhQqQyH). The preview begins at 14:30. Scroll there. 

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    Teaching Strategies GOLD® for Preschool

    This Frequently Asked Questions document is intended to be a “living document.” It will be updated periodically with more current information, additions, and clarifications as implementation processes progress. 

    Teaching Strategy Gold FAQ Quicklinks:

    1. General Information
    2. Accessing Teaching Strategies GOLD®
    3. Teaching Strategies GOLD® for Preschool Training
    4. Preliminary Levels
    5. Collecting Documentation
    6. Checkpoints
    7. Transition Report
    8. Exceptional Children
    9. English Language Learners
    10. Reports
    11. Additional Resources

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