The Bridge: For Early Emergent Students
The Bridge Observational Schedule for Students with Complex Needs (Adapted by Erin Sheldon, MEd, 2017, from The BRIDGE, an observational portfolio rating scale by Pierce, Summer, O’DeKirk, 2005).
Overall Information
he Bridge is used as a component of the emergent literacy assessment tools. It is ONLY used when the emergent literacy assessment has been attempted and no useful data was gathered or the student did not respond. Please note: The Bridge is not appropriate for students with a significant physical disability.
The Bridge is completed by a student’s team, based on observations of the student’s literacy behaviours over a three week period. In order for a skill to be identified as achieved, the skill needs to be observed at least 3 times in the three week period. Dates are recorded against each skill as it is observed. Once a skill has been observed three times, no further data needs to be kept for that skill and staff can focus on looking for skills further along the same scale.
Three writing samples should also be collected and assessed using the Writing with All Tools Continuum. Further information about this is available on the writing assessment page.
Downloads and Materials
We use a modified version of The Bridge (Sheldon, 2017) and the resources for this are:
- Bridge Student Record Form
- Guide to Completing the Bridge including an example completed Bridge assessment
The original Bridge Observational Schedule and supporting resources are available online at https://www.www.med.unc.edu/healthsciences/clds/resources/early-childhood-resources-1/the-bridge-assessment/
Information about the using the Writing with All Tools Continuum is available on the Writing Assessment page.