The Power of Observation

Middle school and high school teachers use tests and academic assignments. Elementary teachers use those tools while mixing in artistic products, worksheets, and other authentic techniques. For the early childhood teacher, however, all data collection and assessment on a child's development begins and ends with observation. This book tackles how influential and enhancing to a teacher's techinque that observation can be if it is executed carefully and systematically. It begins with a brief basic look at what observation is, continues with a chapter on how observation is the key way to build relationships, and ends with how to apply it to your teaching by getting the teacher started immediately. Inbetween those chapters, the teacher learns what her role is as an observer. I particularly like this chapter because parts of it hark back to Maria Montessori's perspective on "The teacher as a scientist." There are guidelines on how to be a skilled (not just okay) observer and advice on the barriers to becoming one. In the end, I think this book covers all that you need for observation (e.g. kidwatching). It's inexpensive (my favorite kind of books) and is given a blessing (via the foreward) by Diane Dodge, the creator of the Creative Curriculum. Please check it out.