Practical Strategies for Observing Children to Support Differentiated Instruction Boces, 11/3

What are you expecting to learn from this workshop?

Goals Write an objective observation Observe young children with a purpose Use observations to guide Intentional Instruction Use observations to support learning that leads to indicators of the NYS Prek Foundation for the Common Core

Seeing is Believing

Objective/Subjective Observation Write down what you see, what you smell, what you feel. In your small group talk about your observation. As a group write down on a piece of paper two columns - “Objective” and “subjective”.

How do you feel about Observing Children?

Clip chapter 3 video 5

Chap 4 video 8

Chapter 4 video 9

Chapter 4 video 10

Chapter 4 video 12

Linking Observations to Prek Foundations indicators

Approaches to Learning chapter 5 video 14

Strategies to promote development and learning Provide time for children to explore a variety of activities and materials Assist child to find answers to own questions by exploring together Provide tasks where the goal is trying different strategies rather than right or wrong answer Try child’s suggested interventions when problems are encountered; talk to child about what worked and what did not work

Comment positively on child’s persistence and concentration Help child focus attention (i.e. “look at this.” “I want you to pay attention to the experiment.”) Encourage children to pursue favorite activities Help children remember experiences with photographs

Reading Standards for Literature chapter 4 video 11

Strategies to Promote Development and Learning Use the letters of the alphabet as they come up in real life situations Print in upper and lower case letters Provide paper and writing tools for child to use for specific purposes (i.e. card for sick child) Ask child to sign artwork, cards, and letters Point out shapes of individual letters to help children learn letters

Provide opportunities for child to draw a story or idea and write out the dictation for that idea Model making lists (i.e. grocery list)

Scientific Thinking chapter 7 video 17

Strategies to Promote Development and Learning Provide opportunities for children to learn through all the senses Provide opportunities for children to share observations through pictures and words Help children represent his/her observations using charts/graphs Invent and conduct simple experiments with children (i.e. sink and float)

Demonstrate, explain, and engage child in activities that make predictions about natural events If possible, go to museums or community events that focus on the natural world