Facilitator: Jodi Abbott

Develop an understanding of children’s interests and developmental needs

Occupational Health and Safety

CHCPR3C Element one: Gather information about the child through Observation

Areas of Development:

Fine Motor

Gross Motor

Communication

Social

Emotional

Cognitive

Gather information about the child through Observation

What knowledge do we gain from taking observations ?Strengths

Needs

Interests

Abilities

Likes/dislikes

Behavioural patterns/triggers

Family life/influences

Skills and knowledge

Ability to offer appropriate activities

Ideas on how to provide a safe, stimulating and challenging environment

Guidance for routines/ rituals and rhythms

Provide a diverse and inclusive environment

Revision and evidence

See with a purpose

Allows children to own the program/child focused

Analyse are own behaviour

Follow a process

Identify children's ideas

Predict change/sequential growth

Gather information about the child through Observation

Why do we need to take group observations?

•Group Dynamics•Routines•Triggers•To create pedagogy

Gather information about the child through Observation

•What do we base our observations on?

•Interests•Age and stage•Socio cultural influences•What we see and hear•Facts•Sequence•Words that describe the skills, interests and behaviours being displayed.

Gather information about the child through Observation

Different methods of recording:

Anecdotal

Running record

Check lists

Story telling

(Please refer to hand out)

Gather information about the child through Observation.

Week One

Group A Date:

Max

Tom

Mary

Suzie

Week Two

Group B Date:

Julie

Kyle

Sam

Harry

Week Three

Group C Date:

Lucy

Lizzy

William

Week Four

Group D Date:

Zac

Meg

Jack

Sebastian

Gather information about the child through Observation

How could you describe in detail the following words ?(Please refer to your handout)

Gather information about the child through Observation

Observe the following clip and dot point relevant aspects of development/behaviour being displayed.

At the end of the clip write up an anecdotal observation looking back on your dot points, string them together to paint a picture of the development and behaviour unfolding.

Jasmine 2.3 yrs

Jasmine 2.3 yrs

Interpret observations.

What is an interpretation?

Interpret your observation/s from the clip shown earlier.

Why is it important to act on what you observe there and then?

Now it’s time to be S.M.A.R.T

Specific

Measurable What is it you want the child to do/experience?

Achievable What specific learning, knowledge, skills or

Realistic attitudes will be involved in carrying out the

Timely activity?

Gather information about the child through Observation/Record observations appropriately

What do we need to consider prior to taking observations ?

• Attendance• Organisation• Routines• Staff ratios• Awareness of Focus and planned children• The child/children’s wellness/wellbeing• Time of Day

Gather information about the child through

Observation/Record observations appropriately

• Discuss Pros and Cons for each method of observing ?

Gather information about the child from secondary sources

What are secondary sources?• Verbal exchange from other c/g’s, parents etc

Communication books, background information, photos.

• Background information is mostly gained through centre enrolment forms. Some early childhood educators make one up specifically for programming and is distributed to parents prior to their child being the focus child. For relevant up to date details. This help to involve the families into the creation of the program for their own child.

Gather information about the child from secondary sources

• What questions would be useful on a background information sheet?

Gather information about the child from secondary sources

• How can secondary information be useful to providing experiences for children within your program?– Socio culture approach– Languages– Experiences /interests at home implemented into the

service– Sharing of all the above with a group as a whole– Inclusive/diversity to the program

Gather information about the child from secondary sources

• Confidentiality you responsibilities?

• How are observations, enrolment forms and personal details stored ?

Use observations and information collected to understand the child and contribute to program

planning How can you contribute to the program?

• How do you identify the child’s/children’s interests, needs and strengths

• What strategies do you use to communicate these prior to the program being created

• What do you look for when reading another’s c/g’s observation?

• How do you use them with the observed child?• How do you use them to inform the child’s parents on

their development

Use observations and information collected to understand the child and contribute to program

planning

• Identify needs , strengths and interests.

• Create an activity to meet the above based on the observations on Jasmine.