ABSTRACT
Yvonnes cultural, political, and intellectual life experiences support and drive her practice as a progressive, child-centered, democratic educator. This is her story about how she uses assessment as a way to look carefully at kids in order to come to know them, their needs, and their dreams. Observing and assessing children closely gives Yvonne the precious clues and cues she needs to create a learning environment that invites all children in and allows them to build their senses of themselves as powerfol, capable, and cared-for human beings. The story is written, for the most part, in her own words, and is derived from an extensive interview I conducted with her. As the behind-the-scenes narrator, I have organized and structured this piece and placed it within a conceptual framework. However, while we consider this piece to be a collaborative endeavor, it is Yvonnes voice you hear.
