Observation

An observation is gathering information about a child or children by watching them. You are observing an everyday routine anchor a classroom assessment system. The teachers are decision makers making formal and informal decisions affecting a child’s development. They are the most important assessment tools in the ECED Program today. Per the New Mexico Early Learning Guidelines (NMELG), observation outlines the developmental expectations and accomplishments measured by each child (New Mexico State Children, Youth and Families Department, & Department of Health and Public Education Department, 2014). The role of observation in an early childhood program is observing the children in your day care, which can help you as a person or as a teacher better yourself to understand the strengths and weakness of each individual child. An observations can guide a program and help teachers or parents make adjustments to your care environment to improve a child’s behavior and develop a child’s or children’s learning. This can also, develop a child into building a stronger relationship with the teacher and children in the classroom. It’ the most reliable and informative assessment process in NMELG.

There are many ways that you can record a child during an observation assessment. As a teacher or practicum student, you can take notes by writing them down and some required large periods of time because you want to make sure that all the information that you are gathering, is enough information for you to plan out the assessment and so that you are able to work with the child or children to develop them in whatever skill is needed. It is best to plan an observation during a child’s directed or independent work time like during their free time of play. You can also, record information during story time, recess, a sing along, or while doing a large or small group activity. The first rule that all teachers are required to apply in their assessment is to use multiple measures, which is to collect data from all children while observing. While planning for this assessment, three of the most common methods of recording are anecdotal notes, logs, notebooks, or even recording through video, which would have to be asked or given permission by the parents or guardians. These records and summarization of record should be authentic and related to the NMELG.

An observation fit into the portfolio process or other record-keeping system because it places electronic files, folders, boxes, or baskets, for keeping the child’s information together (Mindes & Jung, 2015). This way, teachers can go through that information to keep track of that child. It’s very useful during parent teacher conference to inform families and plan individualized curriculum activities and strategies to help each child grow and develop (New Mexico State Children, Youth and Families Department, & Department of Health and Public Education Department, 2014). When using a portfolio, it’s part of an assessment to celebrate a child’s performance in the classroom, demonstrating progress on specific or individual learning in and outcomes, highlighting the skills across the curriculum, and connecting children’s products with specific state or national standards (Mindes & Jung, 2015). The portfolio process can be used for IFSP or IEP for children with disabilities.

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