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

2. Observing Children: A Tool for Assessment
In this chapter, you will learn about
assessment
assessment tools
using technology for assessment
portfolios
guidelines for observing children
sc.essortment.com/observingchil_rlir.htm

3. Objectives List purposes of assessment.
Contrast initial and ongoing assessment.
List the factors to consider in choosing a method of assessment.
List the advantages and disadvantages of various assessment tools.
Compile a list of contents for a child’s portfolio.
Summarize guidelines for observing children.

4. Terms to Know assessment developmental norm anecdotal record checklist
participation chart
rating scale
portfolio

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 norms or characteristics considered normal for children in specific age
Informal: involves observing children in the classroom

7. Assessment Choosing a method of assessment
type of behavior and amount of detail to be assessed
audience, one child or the entire group
amount of focused attention required by the observer

8. Brainstorm
Why is it important to do initial assessment and ongoing assessment of the children?

9. 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

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

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

12. 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

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

14. 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

15. 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

16. Reflect
If you were working in an early childhood program, which method(s) of assessment would you use? Why?

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

18. Discuss What type of activities can you capture in a videotape?
What assessment data can you extract from such activities?

19. 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

20. Discuss
Provide examples of some types of work that can be included in a child’s portfolio.

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

22. Reflect
What are some strategies you can use to keep information confidential?

23. Summary
Assessment is the process of observing, recording, and documenting children’s growth and development in order to make decisions about their education.
The primary purpose of assessment is to plan developmentally appropriate curriculum.
Most assessment methods involves observing children.

24. Summary
There are several assessment tools that are used in early childhood programs:
anecdotal records
checklists
participation charts
rating scales
samples of products
tape recordings