Observations
Non-verbal communication
1. Eye contact: Does the child make eye contact when speaking or listening to you?
2. Facial expressions: Pay attention to the child's facial expressions, including smiles,
frowns, raised eyebrows, and other signs of emotion.
3. Body posture: Observe the child's posture and body language, including whether
they are slouching, fidgeting, or standing/sitting up straight.
4. Gestures: Notice any hand gestures the child uses when communicating, such as
pointing, waving, or tapping.
5. Tone of voice: Listen to the child's tone of voice, including pitch, volume, and
inflection.
6. Proximity: Notice how close the child stands or sits to you or others during
conversation.
7. Touch: Pay attention to the child's physical interactions with others, including hugs,
pats on the back, or other forms of touch.
8. Attention: Observe how well the child is able to pay attention to you or others during
conversation, including whether they seem distracted or disengaged.
9. Response time: Pay attention to how quickly the child responds to questions or
comments, and whether there are any delays or hesitations.
10. Overall impression: Consider the child's overall non-verbal communication, including
how comfortable they seem with you and how well they are able to express
themselves non-verbally.
Verbal communication
1. Vocabulary: Observe the child's use of vocabulary, including whether they use ageappropriate words and can accurately define them.
2. Grammar: Notice the child's use of grammar, including sentence structure, subjectverb agreement, and proper tense.
3. Fluency: Pay attention to the child's fluency when speaking, including any stutters or
hesitations.
4. Pronunciation: Observe the child's pronunciation of words, including any
mispronunciations or speech impediments.
5. Volume: Notice the child's volume when speaking, including whether they speak too
quietly or too loudly.
6. Rate: Observe the child's speaking rate, including whether they speak too quickly or
too slowly.
7. Context: Consider whether the child is able to communicate effectively in different
contexts, such as in a classroom, with peers, or with adults.
8. Clarity: Pay attention to the child's clarity of expression, including whether they can
effectively articulate their thoughts and ideas.
9. Comprehension: Observe whether the child can understand and respond
appropriately to questions or instructions.
10. Overall impression: Consider the child's overall verbal communication skills,
including how confident and comfortable they seem when speaking.
Emotional State
1. Facial expressions: Pay attention to the child's facial expressions, including smiles,
frowns, raised eyebrows, and other signs of emotion.
2. Tone of voice: Listen to the child's tone of voice, including pitch, volume, and
inflection.
3. Body posture: Observe the child's posture and body language, including whether
they are slouching, fidgeting, or standing/sitting up straight.
4. Energy level: Notice the child's energy level, including whether they seem lethargic
or hyperactive.
5. Interactions with others: Observe how the child interacts with others, including
peers and adults, and whether they seem comfortable and engaged or withdrawn
and anxious.
6. Mood shifts: Pay attention to any sudden changes in the child's mood or affect,
including shifts from happy to sad, or from calm to agitated.
7. Expressing emotions: Notice how the child expresses their emotions, including
whether they are able to effectively communicate their feelings or if they struggle to
express themselves.
8. Coping mechanisms: Observe how the child copes with stressors or difficult
situations, including whether they are able to regulate their emotions or if they
become overwhelmed.
9. Triggers: Consider any potential triggers for the child's emotions, such as specific
situations, people, or memories.
10. Overall impression: Consider the child's overall emotional state, including how
happy, sad, anxious, or stressed they seem.
Cognitive Processes
1. Attention span: Observe the child's ability to sustain attention on a task or activity,
including whether they become easily distracted or lose focus.
2. Memory: Notice the child's ability to recall information, including short-term
memory and long-term memory.
3. Problem-solving: Observe how the child approaches problem-solving tasks, including
whether they use trial-and-error or logical reasoning.
4. Creativity: Pay attention to the child's ability to generate new ideas or solutions,
including whether they think outside of the box or rely on established patterns.
5. Critical thinking: Observe the child's ability to analyze information and evaluate
evidence, including whether they can identify biases or inconsistencies.
6. Language development: Notice the child's language development, including
vocabulary, grammar, and ability to understand and express complex ideas.
7. Numeracy: Observe the child's numeracy skills, including basic counting, arithmetic,
and problem-solving with numbers.
8. Reading and writing: Notice the child's reading and writing skills, including ability to
read fluently and write legibly and coherently.
9. Learning style: Consider the child's preferred learning style, including whether they
learn best through visual, auditory, or kinesthetic modes of instruction.
10. Overall impression: Consider the child's overall cognitive abilities, including their
strengths and areas for improvement.
Levels of engagement
1. Eye contact: Notice the child's level of eye contact during interactions, including
whether they make direct eye contact or avoid it.
2. Active listening: Observe whether the child actively listens and responds to others
during conversations, including whether they ask questions or offer insights.
3. Participation: Pay attention to the child's level of participation in activities or
discussions, including whether they contribute ideas or engage in group work.
4. Initiative: Observe the child's ability to take initiative and show interest in activities
or projects, including whether they volunteer for tasks or take on leadership roles.
5. Curiosity: Notice the child's level of curiosity and interest in the world around them,
including whether they ask questions or seek out new information.
6. Imagination: Observe the child's imagination and ability to think creatively, including
whether they engage in imaginative play or generate unique ideas.
7. Focus: Pay attention to the child's ability to maintain focus on tasks or activities,
including whether they become easily distracted or stay on task.
8. Motivation: Observe the child's level of motivation and drive to accomplish tasks or
achieve goals, including whether they persist in the face of challenges.
9. Attitude: Notice the child's attitude towards learning and participating in activities,
including whether they show enthusiasm or negativity.
10. Overall impression: Consider the child's overall level of engagement, including their
strengths and areas for improvement.