OBSERVATIONS 1 PURPOSE OF OBSERVATIONS Observation helps monitor

OBSERVATIONS

1. PURPOSE OF OBSERVATIONS • Observation helps monitor a child’s cognitive, social, emotional, and physical development over time. • Provides vital information about each child’s needs, interests, abilities and learning styles. • Used to develop realistic DAP Curriculum and goals based on the child’s developmental needs & stages. • Helps identify how to best challenge and support the children’s knowledge and learning. • Show the child’s growth and behavior patterns to provide documentation of learning.

2. CHANGES FROM AN OBSERVATION Receive feedback for positive changes through assessments.

3. GUIDELINES FOR AN OBSERVATION Read the guidelines for doing an observation! Initial the bottom of the question when you have read through the guidelines.

4. ASSESSMENTS FORMAL INFORMAL Include standardized tests and research instruments, recording data on carefully designed forms, and analyzing and interpreting the data. Observing children in the classroom, collecting samples of their work, interviewing parents, and talking with children.

OBSERVATIONS OBJECTIVE/FACTUAL Based on the solid facts using 5 W”s (who, what, where, when, how, & why) Focus only on what you can see and hear. SUBJECTIVE/INTERPR ETIVE Personal opinions, assumptions, and feelings about the behavior

WHICH TYPE OF OBSERVATION? ____ Johnny sat and stared at the blocks before he began to build with them. ____ Johnny sat and stared at the blocks because he did not want to build with them, he does not like blocks.