Case Study
Intended Learning Outcome: Positively influence children’s development.
INTRODUCTION:
For this key assessment, you will be selecting a child to observe on at least 18 different occasions over the
span of about 4 to 5 weeks. You will document your observations using anecdotal records. You will write a
report and create activities for children using child development research and information from the anecdotal
records.
Part I: SELECT CHILD: (NAEYC 3c)
1.
Select a child to observe. This should not be your own biological or other closely related child.
Select a child from either the group of children you are currently teaching, or a child of the
same age that you will have ample opportunity to observe.
2.
Obtain permission to observe the child. Obtain the required signatures on the informed
consent form provided for you before beginning observations.
IDENTIFICATION:
Please complete the following before beginning observations.
Code name of child:
Age of child:
Dates for observations:
___________________ through ______________________
Location of observations:
Part II: OBSERVE CHILD: (NAEYC 3b)
COMPLETE ANECDOTES
a. Observe the child using a system of your choice that you can use to create anecdotal
records. (These are objective descriptions of something you observe about the child. They do
not include any interpretation about what you observe.)
Helpful ideas:
sticky notes
index cards
small notebook
photographs
video
clipboard
calendar
audio recording
b. Observe the child over a span of 4 to 5 weeks at various times during the day (some
mornings, some afternoons) and engaged in various activities that are a part of his/her normal
daily schedule. You can use a code name to protect identity of your child, and initials for other
children involved in the recorded event.
c. Create at least 18 anecdotal records using the following guideline:
6 anecdotes with regard to physical development
6 anecdotes with regard to social-emotional development
6 anecdotes with regard to cognitive development (creativity, language, math, science)
Elements of the Anecdotal Record
Date:
Other Children Involved: (use initials)
Setting: (where did it happen? in the block area, outside, etc.)
Area of focus: (physical, social-emotional, or cognitive)
What happened:
Sample Anecdotal Record
2/5/08
C&T
Dramatic Play Center
Social-emotional development
C- you wanna play mommy & baby? Sara- sure
T- I wanna play mommy & baby too
Sara – I’ll be the mommy & you be the baby & you can be the dog (to T)– its nap time so lay down &
I’ll cover you up SHHHH! BE QUIET!
Then Sara covered C’s head with a blanket and patted her back and started singing a song
Part III: WRITE CASE STUDY PAPER
1.
ANECDOTAL RECORDS (1 to 2 pages): (NAEYC 3b)
Type up your 18 anecdotal records in consecutive order exactly as you originally recorded
them. Do not include any interpretation or summary in this portion of the paper.
2.
STAGE SUMMARY AND INTERPRETATION (2 to 3 pages): (NAEYC 3a, 5d)
Complete a two to three page summary of the stage of development that this child is
currently in based on his/her age. Include information regarding cognitive, physical, and
social-emotional development. Use your textbook to start, and one or two other
resources for additional information. Combine this information with your anecdotal
records and discuss the particular child you have observed in relation to the information
about children in that particular stage of development. Provide appropriate
documentation at the end of your summary paper for your additional resources (see
paper guidelines box below).
3.
PLAN THREE ACTIVITIES (1 to 2 pages): (NAEYC 4d)
Describe one classroom activity (teacher directed or child directed) for each of the
developmental areas that you have anecdotes for. Three total activities should be described,
one for physical development, one for social-emotional development and one for cognitive
development. Each of the three activities should be designed for a group of children and
should be activities that would appropriately support and challenge the child you have
observed based on the summary completed for #2 above. You must provide the appropriate
documentation for your activities, whether they are self-created or derived from another source.
4.
REFLECT (1/2 to 1 page): (NAEYC 5d)
Conclude your paper by sharing your reflections about this project. Use the following questions
as a guide:
What have you learned about this child?
What have you learned about yourself?
What have you learned about child growth and development?
How has this project affected your practice?
Final Paper Guidelines (SS #3)
*You must provide documentation for all references used. Use APA format for all references.
Research Article
Author’s last name, Author’s first name or initials (year of publication). Title of the article. Name of the journal, volume
number, page numbers.
Book
Author’s last name, Author’s first name or initials (year of publication). Name of the book, (pages referred to from the
book). Name of the book’s publisher.
Web Page
Name of the organization that is responsible for the web site (such as DHS). Title of the article you read on the site.
When you got the article. Looks like: Retrieved February 8, 2008, from title of the web site: www.the name of the site.
*Your final paper (1-4 of Part III) must be submitted as ONE document.