These are all short notes for my own reference.

Why observe?

• Different child reacts differently.
• Help in child growth and learning.
• Understand the child.
• Most effective way to assess and determine the child progress.
• Link theory and practice.
• Develop realistic curriculum and goals.
• Help parents keep up to the the child’s progress.
• Solve problem.

Attributes to observe:

• Interest and preferences.
• Level of cognitive and social development.
• Skills and accomplishments.
• Personalities and temperaments.
• Strategies for creating desired effects.

Ethical issues:

• Ensure families are comfortable with the observation and allow access to information if they request for it.
• Children needs to be involved as partners in process and documentation.
• Offer explanation of what is intended to be observed.
• Offer child rights to refuse at anytime.
• Ask questions that are developmentally appropriate.
• Take place in naturalistic environment.
• Information is confidential.

Who to observe?

• Children from own class or other class

Who can observe?

• Teacher/teacher’s assistant
• Other staff in the child care centre or kindergarten if the teacher is busy.
• Student interns.

When to observe?

• Anytime of the day that is considered appropriate.

Steps of observation:

1. Prepare to observe – identify time that all staff can meet to discuss and determine techniques for observation.
2. Clarify observation goals – why, what, when to observe.
3. Organize for success – prepare materials and identify place to keep records.
4. Involve the children – let children keep their records with materials.
5. Visit the classroom – find a suitable spot in the classroom to do observation that will not cause distractions to the learning process.
6. Ethics and confidentiality – all information should be confidential.

Guidelines

• Find comfortable place and with good view.
• Keep in the background.
• If a child ask you for help, direct him/her to the teacher.
• If a child ask you what are you doing in the class, just tell something ambiguous such as you are writing.
• Describe records objectively without interpretation.
• Do not be act too obvious when you are observing certain child.
• Include “staff comments”, have balance of positive and negative feedback.