Ages and Stages 3 vs. Brigance

[permanentvacation]

Have any of you used either of these or maybe know about both of them and are able to give me some info about which one you like and why?

I am researching both and can't quite decide on one or the other.

I want to be able to do everything on paper and not have to use the computer for it at all. Can you do that with Brigance? It looks to me like you definitely can do everything on paper with Ages and Stages 3.

Brigance states that it is in line with The Common Core. Do you know if Ages and Stages 3 is?

Is one more 'up to speed' than the other? Is one more behind the times than the other?

I know that Brigance states that you have to buy extra data sheets at $1.00 or $3.00 per child.

It seems to me like Brigance is more in depth, more detailed, and more specifically geared to align with The Common Core, which are all good things, but it also seems a bit more complicated and like it will always cost an additional $1.00 and $3.00 constantly.

So, can anyone tell me their experience with these two? Thank you.

[Unregistered]

do you participate with your areas rating processes? some states have a list of curriculums and the corresponding evaluations that they approve and accept for use. my state approves the use of ages and stages and a few more but Brigance is not on our approved use lists.

[permanentvacation]

Yes, and both of theses are on my state's list.

I just called and spoke with a specialist about the two screening tools. I am going to get Ages and Stages.

[Unregistered]

Any particular reason you went with that one?
I am just curious as I too am starting to look into different evaluation and tracking methods but am still in the gathering information process and haven't decided which one I want to use yet. My group is really young. I have 2 brand new 4 yr olds (both are a bit immature for their age in my opinion) and the rest are all new 3 year olds and younger.

[permanentvacation]

I have been evaluating my kids and giving reports of the evaluations to parents for many years. But soon we will be required to use one of the screening tools the state has decided on. However, basically, I made up my own screening tool many years ago. Mine is more in depth and is closer to Brigance. But, while I'm researching Brigance, it seems like you will continually have to buy more items from them.

After talking with the specialist and telling her about how I created my own evaluation tests/activities (apparently 'screening tools') years ago and have been doing what the state is going to start requiring of us for many years on my own already, but more in depth, she suggested that I use the easier, faster, less work involved, and cheaper Ages and Stages as the required screening tool and then continue doing my own thing if I would like to continue evaluating them more in depth than Ages and Stages does. Also, Ages and Stages allows you to make copies of their evaluation sheets. So you buy the screening tool one time and then there's never additional fees.

So, that's what I'm going to do... Use Ages and Stages and then also continue using the more in depth 'screening' method that I created for myself years ago.

[Second Home]

I decided to go with ages and stages too.

[permanentvacation]

Yeah, Ages and Stages is cheaper, easier for the parent and provider to understand, and the evaluation takes less time. So, to simply fulfill the requirements of performing a screening, it is the better choice, at least in my opinion. Then, if you want to evaluate the children more in depth, you can create your own methods to add to Ages and Stages.