Observation: The Primary Tool in Assessment / To See Each Child with Wisdom, Humor, and Heart

What's In This Kit?
This training kit is designed to introduce teachers to using observation as the primary tool in gathering evidence of developmental growth and to develop skills in doing so. It contains:

• Expected training outcomes
• Preparation instructions
• Training strategies and tips
• Implementation steps
• Follow-up activities for teachers
• Follow-up activities for administrators/directors
• A learning assessment
• A training evaluation/further needs assessment
• A resource list
• The articles "Observation: The Primary Tool in Assessment" by Kay Stritzel Rencken and "To See Each Child with Wisdom, Humor, and Heart" by Sally Cartwright
• A training certificate to award to teachers for attendance and participation
• A certificate for the trainer and other presenters

Who's the Target Audience?
The target audiences for this kit are beginning and intermediate teachers of children from birth to age 8. Teachers will learn how to use observation as a source of information about developmental growth.

Teacher Skill Level

beginning intermediate advanced

Children's Age Level

infants toddlers preschoolers school-agers birth to 8

Kit Timeline:
Preparation time for this kit is estimated at 1.0 hour. Implementation time is estimated at 1.5 hours.

Training Outcomes:

1. 1. Teachers will explain the importance of observing, recording, and sharing information.
2. 2. Teachers will plan curriculum based on group as well as individual needs based on the information gathered through observation.
3. 3. Teachers will plan activities that allow opportunities for the teacher to be an "outside observer" and a "participant observer."
4. 4. Teachers will distinguish between testing and observation.
5. 5. Teachers will practice using different strategies for observing and taking observation notes.

These training outcomes address the following professional standards:

• B-2a, B-3a and J-3 of the Accreditation Criteria and Procedures of the National Association for the Education of Young Children (naeyc, 1998).
• 1, 3, 4a, 4b, and 4d of NAEYC Standards for Early Childhood Professional Preparation, Initial Licensure Level (naeyc, 2003).
• 1304. 21(c)(1)(I-iv) and 1304.21(c)(2) of Head Start Performance Standards (Federal Register, Nov. 5, 1996, Volume 61, Number 215).

Note: Downloadable PDFs are only available for download in pdf format. Directions for downloading follow immediately after purchase.