Kids Say the Darnedest Things
Anecdotal note taking in the real world.
Presenter: Beth Arthur
Senior Screening & Assessment Specialist
Early Learning Coalition of Brevard
barthur@elcbrevard.org
321-637-1800 x 2019
What we will cover today:
What are anecdotal notes?
How to use anecdotal notes to:
Strategies for note taking
•Assess children’s development
Why do anecdotal notes?
•Influence teaching
•Build relationships
What is an Anecdotal note?
“Anecdotal notes are detailed narrative accounts that describe
a particular event factually. “ The Power of Observation Jablon, Dombro and Dichtelmiller
What this really means:
Jotting down what you see and hear
children doing.
3 rules for notes:
CLEARCONSICEFACTUAL-
CLEAR
Child’s name
Where
When
What happened
CONCISE
Avoid descriptive language
Avoid emotional language
Write what you actually see
FACTUAL
Write only what you see
or hear
Who
What
Where
When
Avoid Why
Examples:
At center time Megan laid a doll on top of a diaper and tried
to pull the diaper up between the dolls legs. When this didn’t work she
left the doll on the table and went to the sand table.
OR
Megan laid a doll on top of a diaper and tried
to pull the diaper up very roughly between
the dolls legs. When this didn’t work she got
mad and pouted. She gave up and left the
doll on the table. She abandoned the baby
and went to the sand table.
Which note gets the thumbs up?
Which note gets the thumbs up?
Nicole came to large group time with
an attitude. She looked at the pile of
wrapped items. She gave Jeremiah a mean
look and said “Uh-oh, there are more
children than presents.”
OR
As the children gathered around for
large group time around a pile of wrapped
items, Nicole said “Uh-oh, there are more
children than presents.”
Know what you are looking for
Curricula that utilize Anecdotal notes
or Observation to Guide Instruction
and Assessment
•Creative Curriculum
•High Scope
•Beyond Centers and Circle Time
•Montessori
Know what you are looking for
• Objectives for Development& Learning (ODL)
•Creative Curriculum:
7 Domains: 28 items
plus
Social Studies &
The Arts (8 items)
• Child Observation Record (COR)
•High Scope:
Infant Toddler
6 Categories: 28 items
Preschool
6 Categories: 32 items
Activity
Let’s try it!
Activity
Matching Notes to Domains
Strategies
Making Notes Work for You
Working for Your Notes
Get Organized – Make a Plan
Post-its: A love hate relationship
Pro:
Individual serving size
Stick-able
Compact for teacher pockets
Ready made
Con:
Small - Individual serving size
Stick-together-able
Compact for children’s pockets
Cost
Use what you have
Better to note on anything
You’ve got than miss
the chance!
Clipboards
The
Lowly Clothespin
Be Creative! Make it a part of your room.
…worth a thousand words
Video captures everything…
Children love to see
themselves on video
Parents love to see
their children on video
Teachers love to take
notes from video
Why take notes?
•Make your program responsive to children
•Conduct assessments and write reports
•Work together with families
What you learn about
children
by reading and
evaluating
anecdotal notes
can directly influence
how , what
and WHO you teach.
When Assessing Children’s Development
Technology is your friend
Both the Creative Curriculum
and High Scope have online
assessment tools
TS GOLD
COR Online
OnlineCOR makes teachers' and administrators' jobs easier by streamlining
record keeping, report writing, and tabulation. You will save time
Managing anecdotes — You will be able to enter, score, and track your anecdotes
online.
Reporting on individual children — Using information from the COR, Family
Reports and Growth Profiles are automatically created for each child.
Planning activities — COR scores are aligned with appropriate activities designed
to support and scaffold children at their current level of development.
Activities from our publication, What's Next, are available online.
Reporting on group progress — Reports include results in mandated requirements
such as COR Item T: Showing Awareness of Sounds in Words (which encompasses
alliteration and phonological awareness) and other critical components of child
development.
Assessment for
Creative Curriculum
Teaching Strategies
GOLD
Key for age ranges
Relationships with Families
What do
these
people
have
in
common?
They have gone to school for their profession
They participate in ongoing training to keep
their knowledge up to date
Their judgment is trusted
They are respected by parents
•Know your stuff in Early Childhood education
(continue education & training )
•Be able to provide parents accurate
information about their child and his/her development
•Share assessment information and anecdotal notes at parent
conferences.
•Gain the respect you desire by being a PROFESSIONAL Teacher
Contact me:
barthur@elcbrevard.org