Work Sampling System | Fifth Edition
WSS-5
The Work Sampling System®, Fifth Edition (WSS-5), is an authentic, observational assessment customized for each grade level. By collaborating on real-life inputs between professionals and parents, WSS consists of three complementary elements used in connection with the existing curriculum: Developmental Guidelines, Developmental Checklists, and Family or Summary Reports. WSS helps professionals monitor children's developmental progress across a full range of domains via its standard version or Head Start-aligned version.FILTER BY
WSS Overview Live Webinar 3 Hours
A103000223215
Qualification Level
This 3-hour workshop will cover how to collect and interpret evidence of a child's skills, knowledge, and behavior, and use the findings to take action. Price includes up to 40 people per session.
Training orders will be processed within 5-7 business days of order placement. A training consultant will contact you to coordinate your training. Training dates are scheduled no earlier than 5 weeks from order placement.
WSS Live Question and Answer Virtual 1 Hour
A103000072494
Qualification Level
Price includes up to 40 people per session. This 1-hour Q&A session supports participants who have attended a previous session or are familiar with the assessment. A Pearson expert will meet with participants to address follow-up questions and support specific assessment-related needs. To use the hour efficiently, participants may submit questions in advance. Q&A sessions do not include handouts or slides.
Training orders will be processed within 5-7 business days of order placement. A training consultant will contact you to coordinate your training. Training dates are scheduled no earlier than 5 weeks from order placement.
- Publication date:
- 2013 (2014 Head Start version)
- Age range:
- Preschool 3 years through Grade 3
- Qualification level:
- A
- Scoring options:
- Work Sampling Online or manual scoring
- Other languages:
- Spanish
- Telepractice:
- Distance Learning and Work Sampling System
- Call us at 1-800-627-7271
- Complete this form
A103000110209 - WSS Subscription 1 Year Qty 1 (Digital) - $14.00
Includes access to all manuals, guides, and support components for WSS-5 and WSHS (Head Start version) on a web-based platform, per child per year.
The Work Sampling System is a criterion-referenced observational assessment with extensive research supporting reliability and validity. Whether in its traditional format or in its tailored Head Start version, this authentic assessment of behaviors and performances strengthens child/student motivation, assists teachers in instructional decision making, and serves as an effective means for reporting children's progress to families, professionals, and the community.
WSS-5 has two versions that offer flexibility for early childhood programs who wish to assess multiple domains. Both are available via the online system:
Standard version (7 domains)
- I Personal and Social Development
- II Language and Literacy (with performance indicators for English Language Learners)
- III Mathematical Thinking
- IV Scientific Thinking
- V Social Studies
- VI The Arts
- VII Physical Development, Health, and Safety
Head Start version (11 domains)
- I Physical Development & Health
- II Social & Emotional Development
- III Approaches to learning
- IV Logic & Reasoning
- V Language Development
- VI Literacy Knowledge & Skills
- VII Mathematics Knowledge & Skills
- VIII Science Knowledge & Skills
- IX Creative Arts Expression
- X Social Studies Knowledge & Skills
- XI English Language Development
Professionals use the Developmental Checklist to rate each child in a particular skill/domain:
- NY (Not Yet): The child has not yet demonstrated any development in this area.
- IP (In Process): The child is beginning to demonstrate some development in this area.
- PRO (Proficient): The child has developed to an age-appropriate level.
- NA (Not Applicable): The indicator is not applicable to the child.
- DNO (Did Not Observe): No evidence supporting an assessment in this area was collected; the behavior was not observed.
Using its Developmental Guidelines and Checklists along with Summary or Family Reports, WSS follows a multi-phase Assessment Cycle, up to three times each year:
- Ask questions—What should my students be learning?
- Collect Evidence—What are students showing about what they know?
- Interpret Evidence—What does the evidence mean and what does it tell me about the student(s)?
- Take Action—What's next? How do I apply this evidence in my instructional decisions?
Through documenting and evaluating individual performance of classroom-based tasks, WSS benefits professional teams and parents by:
- assisting teachers in documenting and evaluating students' skills, knowledges, and behaviors using actual classroom-based experiences, activities, and products
- enabling teachers to learn about their students by encouraging them to show what they know and what they can do when solving problems, writing in journals, constructing with blocks, painting with various media, doing experiments, or simply interacting with peers
- helping teachers better understand what they are teaching, what they need to work on, what students are learning, and what students have begun to master via a flexible framework for assessment rather than ranking students
Uses and Applications:
WSS can be used in assessment, intervention, and progress monitoring contexts. Professional users of this assessment may include home visitors, parent educators, family support staff, visiting nurses, public health nurses, and early interventionists.
Depending on the population(s) you serve, WSS may be used with:
- Individuals — private practice, daycare, home settings
- Groups — educational, community, government, or healthcare group practices/programs
Required Browser Versions:
Windows 10, 11 - Chrome (v140), Firefox (v142) and Microsoft Edge (v140) (current and previous two versions)
Mac (latest version) - Chrome (v140), Firefox (v142) and Safari (v18.6) (current and previous two versions)
Resources for WSS-5
Research Summaries
The following training events are available for WSS-5.
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