Observation in early years is a critical area of assessment in many curriculums. While there is no fixed method for conducting observations in childcare, illumine has developed a simplified approach for educators. This blog answers those burning questions about conducting observations in preschool.
1. Importance of observations in childcare
Observation is a crucial part of early years curriculums — such as EYFS, Montessori, and Reggio Emilia. It helps educators and teachers to
- Gain a solid understanding of how children think, feel, and perceive the world
- Identify challenges they face and areas in which they excel Nurture development areas for each child according to the observations
Make and share observation reports with parents about the child’s learning journey
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What are Early Childhood Education Observations?
Observing in early childhood settings can be confusing. Simply put, it is an act of looking, listening, reflecting, and documenting the child’s interactions. A quality observation in the early years includes these elements:
- Observations are Descriptive
It should describe the interaction between the child and the object or person. The description doesn’t have to be long and drawn out, but it should give a sense of the child’s conduct.
<Pro tip> Using the child’s voice to verify how engaged the child is with their learning is a terrific way to go. Echoing the child’s words reveals the child’s thoughts, mental processes, and interactions.
- Observations are Future-oriented
Good observations provide a clear picture of the child’s progress over time. Look for the following things when observing a child:
- The child’s demonstrated interests
- New skills demonstrated by the child that were not previously noted
- Learning that expands on previous skills or knowledge
<Pro tip> Recognize where a child is experiencing significant difficulty. These can create focus areas for them to improve.
- Observations are Reflective
Identify how the child is learning and analyze it to make a plan for teachable moments. Use open-ended questions to allow the child to express their thoughts and ideas.
What are the benefits of observation in early childhood education?
Observations in childcare benefit both the child and the teacher. Here’s how:
- Improve their learning outcomes: Observe individual strengths, weaknesses, and interests. These allow you to tailor activities and environments to support their development.
- Intervene early and support: Identify potential delays or issues with up-close observations.
- Boost the child’s self-esteem: Acknowledge and celebrate the child’s progress. It can nurture their confidence and motivate them to learn more.
- Understanding their learning process: Sharing observations, and reflecting on the progress helps teachers and children be aware of the learning process.
- Improve Parent-Teacher Communication: Observations form the basis for insightful conversations with parents. Thus, builds trust and collaboration to support children’s learning journey.
<Pro Tip> With illumine share learning journeys with the parents that summarise the child’s progress with photos, insights, and more!
What are the observation methods in the early years?
Each observation method has its strengths and weaknesses. The key lies in selecting a method that suits your purpose and context. We have consulted with leading educators worldwide to compile a list of the 6 most effective observation methods, with examples.
- Anecdotal evidence:
Anecdotal records are written after observing a child. They include details on the what, when, and where an event occurred, chronology. They provide insights into a child’s needs, preferences, abilities, and potential areas for development. By maintaining these records, you can easily track the child’s development over time.
Anecdotal Observation Example: Lily is usually shy, and hides behind her us during playtime. Suddenly, she spots a ladybug and with courage, points it out to her friends. You jot down: “10:15 am – Lily overcame shyness, initiating interaction with friends about a ladybug discovery.”
- Running records
Running records, on the other hand, are notes taken in real-time. These records are usually taken down for a few minutes, typically around 2-5 minutes for a child. You have to especially note what the child is saying. It paints a picture of the interests and developmental areas the child needs help with.Running Record Observation Example: Billy is engaged in building a block tower. You write,”3:20 pm – Billy carefully selects red blocks, and says ‘tallest ever!’ He balances them, counting aloud ‘one, two, three…’ But, they fell! He thinks quickly, and adds a wider base, exclaiming ‘Stronger now!'”
- Jottings:
Jottings are short notes. They record critical occurrences, behaviours, and discussions. After recording an observation, the teacher typically interprets or reflects on the note. Thus, helps in analyzing the strengths and concerns to create developmental areas. This method is straightforward, yet effective in understanding the child’s behavior well.
Jottings Example: Sarah is painting. You scribble: “4:15 pm – Sarah stirs purple, saying ‘magic potion.’ Dips brush in blue, laughing ‘bubbles!’ Adds green, saying ‘ready to fly!'”
- Example of work
These are records of a child’s creative work — paintings, sketches, poems, and other crafty creations. It is important to take note of the “what” and “when” of each piece and to document them. This helps to identify any patterns and track progress over time.Observation Example: Daniel’s clay sculpture. You capture it with a photo and note: “2:30 pm – Daniel sculpted a spikey creature. He explains its fire breath and sharp claws with intricate detail.”
- Photographs/Videos
Photographs or videos are one of the key EYFS list observations. It can tell a lot about a child, enabling teachers to keep records of their activities and interests. Over time, these records can help teachers identify patterns, skills, and interests.Observation Example: An attachment of 5 photographs of John and Keith playing dodgeball.
- Time samples
These are documents of actions and activities noted down at regular intervals. They help in recognizing pattern recognition and provide insight into the child’s social skills and interests. Time sampling (time-lapse photography) to observe how children learn is one way to do it.Preschool Observation Example: Mark observes Maya at play for 5 minutes, recording actions in 30-second intervals: “1:00 pm – Giggles with peers, builds blocks, attempts climbing structure (needs assistance).” This reveals social interaction, building skills, and emerging physical development.
2. How to write meaningful observations for the early years?
Three steps to write observations in preschools with examples
Before you observe
- Define the purpose
Know your goal to focus on specific skills, interactions, or overall development. Align your goals with the development areas listed in your curriculum.
- Choose your method
Choose an observation method that aligns with your curriculum and constraints – such as time, access to equipment, and child-teacher ratio.
- Set the scene
Provide a brief description of the setting – the time, location, and individuals involved. These create a better understanding of the environment and enable routine observations.
During the observation
- Describe what you see
Describe the interests, abilities, and skills of children in the following ways:
- Ask what the kids are doing, touching, and saying when they have free time, space, and resources.
- Note how children react to activities, surroundings, routines, and unexpected situations
- Observe the child’s interactions with adults and other children.
- Make notes of other ways the child learns, such as schematic behaviours.
- Mention the child’s temperament, levels of happiness, and participation.
- Be objective
Take a look at the following observations about Khalid, an 8-month toddler:
Note 1: Khalid dislikes being put on the ground. While his mother reads to him, he grabs a ball and gets upset when she leaves.
Note 2: Khalid becomes upset and cries when his mother leaves after reading a book with him.
The first note contains the teacher’s assumptions. In the second note, Khalid’s actions are described instead of being diagnosed. The second note gives a far more accurate image of what Khalid does and says when he arrives at the daycare.
- Talk about influences on behaviour
Include any information that could affect a student’s abilities or behaviour in the classroom. For example, state the kind of background the child comes from or their first language. These could affect their development areas. In the observation report, explain causes, and intellectual gifts.
- Use clear and concise language
Avoid jargon and focus on capturing the essence of the observation. Some notes may be only legible and understandable to the teachers. In such scenarios, it is important to explain them later in a meaningful manner so they can be shared.
illumine uses AI to provide educators with a tool to transform observations into meaningful notes. Thus, educators can spend less time crafting notes and more time focusing on their students’ needs.
After the observation
- Reflect and analyze
After observing and taking notes, reflect on the development areas of the observation. Take note of what the observation implies and evaluate progress so far. You can also experiment with adult interactions during the event to affect the child’s engagement. This creates an overall analysis and defines the next steps.
- Share and collaborate
Recording the preschool classroom observation does not end the process. Create observation reports to share with parents, colleagues, and specialists. Sharing the reports can help build a comprehensive understanding of the child. These reports may also prove useful for the child if they are well-preserved.
- Stay flexible
Your observations of the child are the foundation of your planning. But, children change quickly and unexpectedly and make it impossible to plan for the weeks ahead. Therefore, any plans and routines must be adaptable.
3. The Importance of Observations Report for Preschool
After creating an observation record, it is essential to create classroom observation reports. These records prove useful when
- planning lessons for developmental areas
- creating assessments
- discussing concerns with parents and colleagues, and
- sharing learning journeys
To create observation records for preschools, you need to evaluate various factors such as –
- Reviewing Notes: Analyze written observations, look for patterns, strengths, and areas for development
- Scoring Assessments: Score tests and rubrics manually, note points, and interpret their meaning within the specific assessment’s framework
- Identifying Trends: Identity trends in progress and compare data points across different periods and against expected developmental milestones
Although the process may look extensive and overwhelming, Assessment tools like illumine simplify this process for you.
4. Manual Observation Reports vs. Illumine Observation Reports
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