1. Observing Children: A Tool for Assessment
Chapter 3
Observing Children: A Tool for Assessment

2. Please get out a piece of blank paper…
Please get out a piece of blank paper….you may use your warm up page if you have one started for this week You need two columns, so draw a line in the center of the page Label one side peanut 1 Label the other side peanut 2
PEANUT 1
PEANUT 2

3. PEANUT #1
PEANUT 1: please describe the attributes of this peanut the best that you can: shape, color, texture, size, other attributes (does it bounce? Roll? Smell? How does it feel?) what is unique about this peanut?

4. PEANUT #2 Please answer the questions about peanut #2
Take your peanut!
PEANUT 2: Please describe the attributes of this peanut the best that you can: shape, color, texture, size, other attributes (does it bounce? Roll? Smell? How does it feel?)
what is unique about this peanut?

5. Assessment
Assessment: the process of observing, recording, and documenting children’s growth and behavior
Purposes of assessment:
gather information about social, emotional, and cognitive development
plan developmentally appropriate curriculum
keep the teachers and the curriculum responsive to the need of children

6. Assessment When to do assessments Type of assessment
Initial assessment: at the beginning of the school year
Ongoing assessment: during classroom activities
Type of assessment
Formal: used to identify developmental milestones or characteristics considered normal for children in specific age
Informal: involves observing children in the classroom

7. Assessment Tools
There are several assessment tools that are used in early childhood programs.
Anecdotal records
Checklists
Participation chart
Rating scales
Collecting samples of children’s products

8. Anecdotal Records
Anecdotal records: brief narrative account of a specific incident
Objective observation
Interpretation of data
ACTIVITY

9. Did You Know…
The best way to observe young children is to sit in and try to blend into their environment.

10. Checklists
Checklist: tool to record the presence or absence of specific traits or behaviors
Advantages
No time constraints in collecting the data
Information can be quickly recorded
Easy to use
Disadvantages
Lack of detailed information

11. Participation Chart
Participation chart: tool developed to gain information on specific aspects of children’s behavior
Activity preferences
Sleeping patterns

12. Rating Scales
Rating scales: used to record the degree to which a quality or trait is present
Advantages
Easy to use
Disadvantages
Only fragments of actions are included
Observer needs a good understanding of the behavior being rated

13. Collecting Samples of Children’s Products
Collecting samples of children’s products can provide valuable information regarding the child development status and growth.
Stories
Artwork
Photographs
Records of conversations

14. Using Technology for Assessment
Technology is a useful tool for recording children’s development.
Videotapes
Audiotapes
Photographs

15. Visual Documentation
Visual documentation: collection or photographs of samples of a child’s work that shows learning and development
Artwork
Dramatic play
Building-block structures
Infant skills
Self-help skills

16. Portfolios
Portfolio: a collection of material that shows a person’s abilities, accomplishments, and progress over time
Art projects
Audiotapes
Parents’ questionnaires
Summaries of parent conferences

17. Guidelines for Observing Children
When studying young children,
keep information confidential
avoid items that may cause distractions
avoid talking to the children, other observers, and staff
observe the children and then make note of their behavior

18. Observation Etiquette
SEE HANDOUT