Preschool Observation

Student's name
Child's name
Age/sex

Where did the observation take place, time, date?

Directions: Observe one preschool child age 3 to 5 years.  This child must be interacting with other children around the same age level. The observation must contain a full hour of notes.  Include your personal reflections at the end of the hour in your typed paper.  Follow the directions on your green sheet.  No late assignments will be accepted due to finals the next week.

Each preschool observation must include the following information:

Name of the child and where you did the observation.  Name the teachers or parents responsible (first name only) for the child you observed.

Write a full description of the physical setting in which the observation took place or you may draw a picture of the setting.

Describe the steps you took to reduce your intrusion into the child's environment.Make sure you type in the subtitles that are on the evaluation sheet.  Example:  3 examples of gross motor skills.

Physical description: Describe at least 3 examples of the child's gross motor skill within the context of what happened and where it happened.  Each example must be a different activity.

Give 2 different examples of the child's fine motor skills.  Make sure you describe this with details.

Cognitive Development: Describe how the child problem solves a situation using his/her mental capacities. 2 different examples in varied settings. 

Language: Describe 3 different conversations with another child (not with an adult).  Record the words spoken and in what environment this conversation took place. Conversations are verbal interactions between two people in this case children.  Describe where the activity took place then record each child's conversation.  More information will be given in class.

Social Development: Describe 2 social interactions with other children and examples of the child displaying 3 out of the 9 different temperamental traits not the three personalities.. (Alexander Thomas/Stella Chess)

You must use separate examples for the different domains and traits.

Be objective as possible; writing only what you observe as if you were a camera recording the information.

Observation etiquette:

Contact the director or mother and ask permission to observe the child.  Don't assume.  Explain your assignment to the caregiver in charge.  The only exception is in our center.  You need to sign up in the book and wear a name tag into the room.  The teacher will then know you are there to observe.

Minimizing intrusion:

Children and teachers need to get use to your presence.  Spend some time before the hour begins watching the child you picked to observe.  Observe them while they are active.  Separate observed behavior from your own thoughts and feelings.  At the end describe what you personally learned from this observation. Please do not talk to the teachers or ask them questions as their job is to interact with the children.

Turn in your hand written notes with the assignment.

Staple the evaluation sheet on top of your typed observation followed by your hand written notes.

Make sure you include your hand written notes and describe what you personally learned from this observation. Correct grammar, spelling, and complete sentences are required for this observation.  Have some one proof read your paper before you turn it in.  See your green sheet for further instructions.