show+tell for educators

Exploring Innovative Preschool Assessment Tools

Sponsored by:

BILL & MELINDA GATES FOUNDATION

Presented by:

In 2024, Promise hosted our first-ever Show+Tell for Educators, inviting preschool teachers, coaches, and administrators to answer the question:

How can assessment tools be improved to support you as an educator?

216 AMAZING EDUCATORS dedicated their valuable time to this project.

Read on to find out WHO the Show+Tell educators are and what INSIGHTS they shared!

What was Show+Tell for Educators?

We put a call out for preschool teachers to check out 10 innovative preschool assessment tools and provide us with their expert feedback!

Teachers are with our youngest students every day, teaching and helping them grow. We wanted to find out what teachers thought of some of the most innovative preschool assessment tools we’d seen. And we wanted teacher voices to be heard by the developers behind those assessments.

What we were able to offer through Show+Tell:

  • $150 Visa Gift Card for qualifying preschool educators

  • A chance to influence the future of preschool assessments

  • Opportunities to test and pilot new tools

Learn more about the ten featured assessment tools here.

Who are the Show+Tell Educators?

216 dedicated, compassionate educators participated in Show+Tell! When asked what they’re most proud of from the past school year, their replies centered on themes of:

  • Nurturing students’ growth and development

  • Embracing innovative teaching practices

  • Overcoming challenges with resilience and adaptability

  • Building strong relationships with children, families, and school communities

In their own words, here’s what some of the Show+Tell Educators were proud of from the past school year:

Where do they come from?

The 216 Show+Tell educators represent 21 states. Most are people of color with more than five years of preschool teaching experience who currently work in programs serving 50+ children.

21 states represented:

Alabama - California - Colorado - Florida - Georgia - Illinois - Indiana - Maryland - Massachusetts - Michigan - Minnesota - Nebraska - New Jersey - New York - North Carolina - Ohio - Oklahoma - Pennsylvania - Texas - Virginia - Wisconsin

Educators’ backgrounds and experiences:

What assessment tools do they use today?

The most-commonly used assessments among the Show+Tell Educators included:

  • Teaching Strategies GOLD

  • Work Sampling System

  • Highscope COR

  • DRDP

70% of the Show+Tell educators are using more than one assessment in their classes.

30% of them are currently using three or more assessments in their classrooms!

What would they like to change about current assessments?

The Show+Tell Educators wished their current assessments were more user friendly, less time consuming, more comprehensive, and more inclusive and culturally sensitive.

In their own words, here are the changes they’d like to see:

What are their perspectives on tech in preschool?

Educators brought diverse perspectives on tech in preK classrooms, balancing an appreciation for the benefits of tech with a strong commitment to ensure that children spend most of their days interacting with peers and using their whole bodies to play and learn.

In their own words:

What did they think of the assessment tools featured at Show+Tell?

The Show+Tell Educators watched short presentations from 10 new, equity-driven assessment tools. (You can see all ten of the presentations here!) Their unique perspectives were reflected in their feedback on the different assessment tools, but we saw a few common themes.

The Show+Tell Educators were:

  • Interested in assessments that speak to social emotional development and how teachers can support children in this area

  • Excited about the promise of tools that leverage AI but also had concerns about data usage and privacy

  • Interested in assessments that incorporate off-screen elements, such as books

  • Eager for professional development on how best to support diverse students but also wanted leadership at their centers to provide similar supports and focus

How did educators feel about the Show+Tell experience?

Educators liked the opportunity to learn about innovative offerings and to think differently about assessment!

Thank you to the Show+Tell Educators for sharing your time, experience, and wisdom with us!

Not an educator but still interested in preschool assessments?

Check-out the one-hour Show+Tell webinar featuring the same assessment tools we hosted on April 24th!