1. Kids Say the Darnedest Things Anecdotal note taking in the real world.
Presenter: Beth Arthur
Senior Screening & Assessment Specialist
Early Learning Coalition of Brevard
x 2019

2. What we will cover today:
What are anecdotal notes?
Strategies for note taking
Why do anecdotal notes?
How to use anecdotal notes to:
Assess children’s development
Influence teaching
Build relationships

3. What is an Anecdotal note?
“Anecdotal notes are detailed narrative accounts that describe
a particular event factually. “ The Power of Observation Jablon, Dombro and Dichtelmiller
What this really means:
Jotting down what you see and hear
children doing.
3 rules for notes:
CLEAR-
CONSICE-
FACTUAL-

4. CLEAR
Child’s name
Where
When
What happened

5. CONCISE Avoid descriptive language Avoid emotional language
Write what you actually see

6. FACTUAL
Write only what you see
or hear
Who
What
Where
When
Avoid Why

7. Examples: OR Which note gets the thumbs up?
At center time Megan laid a doll on top of a diaper and tried
to pull the diaper up between the dolls legs. When this didn’t work she
left the doll on the table and went to the sand table. OR
Which note gets the thumbs up?
Megan laid a doll on top of a diaper and tried to pull the diaper up very roughly between the dolls legs. When this didn’t work she got mad and pouted. She gave up and left the doll on the table. She abandoned the baby and went to the sand table.

8. OR Which note gets the thumbs up? Nicole came to large group time with
an attitude. She looked at the pile of
wrapped items. She gave Jeremiah a mean
look and said “Uh-oh, there are more
children than presents.” OR
As the children gathered around for
large group time around a pile of wrapped
items, Nicole said “Uh-oh, there are more
children than presents.”
There are a couple of things wrong with this anecdote. If writing for Nicole, Jeremiah’s name should not be included.

9. Know what you are looking for

10. Curricula that utilize Anecdotal notes
or Observation to Guide Instruction
and Assessment
Creative Curriculum
High Scope
Beyond Centers and Circle Time
Montessori

11. Know what you are looking for
Objectives for Development& Learning (ODL)
Creative Curriculum:
7 Domains: 28 items
plus
Social Studies &
The Arts (8 items)
Child Observation Record (COR)
High Scope:
Infant Toddler
6 Categories: 28 items
Preschool
6 Categories: 32 items

12. Activity
Let’s try it!

13. Activity
Matching Notes to Domains

14. Strategies
Making Notes Work for You
Working for Your Notes

15. Get Organized – Make a Plan

16. Post-its: A love hate relationship
Pro:
Individual serving size
Stick-able
Compact for teacher pockets
Ready made
Con:
Small - Individual serving size
Stick-together-able
Compact for children’s pockets
Cost

17. Use what you have Better to note on anything You’ve got than miss
the chance!

18. Clipboards

19. The
Lowly Clothespin

20. Be Creative! Make it a part of your room.

21. …worth a thousand words

22. Video captures everything…
Children love to see
themselves on video
Parents love to see
their children on video
Teachers love to take
notes from video

24. Why take notes? Make your program responsive to children
Conduct assessments and write reports
Work together with families

25. What you learn about children by reading and evaluating
anecdotal notes
can directly influence how , what
and WHO you teach.

26. When Assessing Children’s Development Technology is your friend

27. TS GOLD COR Online Both the Creative Curriculum
and High Scope have online
assessment tools
TS GOLD
COR Online

29. OnlineCOR makes teachers' and administrators' jobs easier by streamlining record keeping, report writing, and tabulation. You will save time
Managing anecdotes — You will be able to enter, score, and track your anecdotes online.
Reporting on individual children — Using information from the COR, Family Reports and Growth Profiles are automatically created for each child.
Planning activities — COR scores are aligned with appropriate activities designed to support and scaffold children at their current level of development.
Activities from our publication, What's Next, are available online.
Reporting on group progress — Reports include results in mandated requirements such as COR Item T: Showing Awareness of Sounds in Words (which encompasses alliteration and phonological awareness) and other critical components of child development.

30. Assessment for
Creative Curriculum
Teaching Strategies
GOLD
Key for age ranges

32. Relationships with Families

33. What do
these
people
have in
common?

34. They have gone to school for their profession
They participate in ongoing training to keep
their knowledge up to date
Their judgment is trusted
They are respected by parents

35. Know your stuff in Early Childhood education
(continue education & training )
Be able to provide parents accurate
information about their child and his/her development
Share assessment information and anecdotal notes at parent
conferences.
Gain the respect you desire by being a PROFESSIONAL Teacher

36. Contact me: