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How to Observe Young Children for Assessment and Curriculum Planning

Demetrius Carter

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Published in Focused Observations: How To Observe Young Children For Assessment And Curriculum Planning

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Observing young children is a critical part of assessment and curriculum planning. By observing children, we can learn about their interests, strengths, and needs. This information can then be used to create a curriculum that is tailored to the individual needs of the children in our care.

There are many different ways to observe young children. Some common methods include:

Anecdotal records: These are written records of what you observe the child ng or saying.
Running records: These are ongoing records of the child's behavior that are written down as they occur.
Checklists: These are lists of specific behaviors that you are interested in observing.
Time sampling: This method involves observing the child for a specific period of time and recording what they do during that time.
Event sampling: This method involves observing the child until a specific event occurs and then recording what happens.

The method you choose will depend on the purpose of your observation. For example, if you are interested in observing a child's social skills, you might use anecdotal records or running records. If you are interested in observing a child's language development, you might use checklists or time sampling.

Focused Observations: How to Observe Young Children for Assessment and Curriculum Planning

by Gaye Gronlund

4.6 out of 5

Language	:	English
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Here are some tips for observing young children:

Be patient. It takes time to build a rapport with young children and to get them comfortable with being observed.
Be unobtrusive. Try to observe children without interfering with their play or activities.
Be objective. Record what you see and hear without judgment.
Be specific. Include details about the child's behavior, including what they are ng, saying, and interacting with.
Be consistent. Observe the child regularly to get a complete picture of their development.

Once you have made your observations, it is important to record them so that you can refer back to them later. There are many different ways to record your observations, including:

Written notes: You can write down your observations in a notebook or on a piece of paper.
Audio recordings: You can record your observations using a tape recorder or a smartphone.
Video recordings: You can record your observations using a video camera.

The method you choose will depend on your personal preferences and the purpose of your observations.

Once you have recorded your observations, you can use them to plan curriculum that is tailored to the individual needs of the children in your care. Here are some tips for using your observations to plan curriculum:

Identify the child's interests. What does the child like to do? What are they good at?
Identify the child's strengths. What skills and abilities does the child have?
Identify the child's needs. What areas does the child need to improve?
Develop learning goals. Based on the child's interests, strengths, and needs, develop learning goals that you want to achieve.
Plan activities. Plan activities that will help the child achieve their learning goals.

Focused Observations: How to Observe Young Children for Assessment and Curriculum Planning

by Gaye Gronlund

4.6 out of 5