This document provides guidance on conducting written observations of children in early childhood education. It discusses using observations to extend classroom activities, complete assessments, and document child development based on standards. Teachers are instructed to write clear, objective observations during free play, structured activities, outdoor time and meals. Observations should include the subject, skills, setting and be as objective as possible, including direct quotes. Videos are also used to demonstrate observing and writing observations of children.

1. Jessica Rainey
AET/545
Dr. Linda Justus
November 19, 2012

2. In this training you will :
 Learn to write clear and objective
observations
 Use written observations to add and
extend daily activities in the classroom
 Use written observations to complete
assessments

3.  Qualityobservations can be made at any
time throughout the day
 Makesmall notes through out
week, record all at once

4.  Criteria for On-Target child development
based on Early Learning and Development
Standards in
 Infants, Toddlers Pre Kindergarten, and
School-Age children
 Free Play
 Structured Activities
 Outdoor or Gross Motor Play
 Meal Times & Self-Care Practices

5.  Subject
 Skillor Action
 The setting or scenario if it aids in
description of the skill or action
 Objective
 Direct quotations if possible

6. In this video clip:
 Observe the child with the Dino-Mite shirt
 After the video:
~ Write one observation about the child in
the video

7. Two children were rolling their cylinders
across the table repeatedly to see who’s
would go the furthest.
The child was cheering on his friend while
they were rolling cylinders across the
table during small group time.

8. In this video clip:
 Observe the child with the blue shirt
 After the video:
 Write one observation about the child in the
video

9. 1.The child climbed up the slide without
help, then slid back down.
2. The child flapped his arms when the car
reached the bottom of the tower.
3. The child played ball tracks with a peer
for 2 minutes without interruption.

10.  In this video clip:
 Observe the 2 children in the video
 After the video:
 Write one observation about the child in
the video

11. 1.The child said she “brought her blanket
today because she’s extra tired.”
2. The child shared toy knife with her friend
and asked her “Do you want to cut with
me?”
3. The two girls we playing cooperatively in
the home center, they were pretending to
cut fruit for their babies.

12.  How to Extend Activities:
 Brainstorm
 Add enhancing items to activities or center
 Develop open-ended questions to enhance
discussions about activities.
 Align activities with standards used in classroom
 Why extend?
 Develop interests
 Develop skills

13.  Video 1:
 Using rolling pins with play dough
 Sort & Classify things that roll
 Provide various size cylinders for children to explore
 Video 2:
 Help children build roads and different towers for the
children to use in car center
 Explore how the small balls roll on other surfaces,
including various textures.
 Video 3:
 Incorporate items from lesson theme into Home Center to
extend theme
 Make a “Favorite Foods” chart for the classroom
 Practice using plastic knives during meal time

14.  When completing assessments:
 Checklists
 Rating Scale
 Using a standard rating scale to determine to what level
of competency the children can complete or
demonstrate a particular skill.
 One example of a rating scale would be:
 Does the child demonstrate ______ skill ?
 Possible Answers: Not Yet, Occasionally, Proficient, Mastered

15. Observation is crucial to the continuous
development of children!