Professional Documents
Culture Documents
OBSERVING STUDENTS
EFFECTIVE PRACTICES SUPPORTING FORMATIVE ASSESSMENT
While implementing the Formative Assessment process the teacher uses planned,
multiple, and ongoing strategies to elicit evidence of learning as instruction is
occurring and learning is underway. Some strategies teachers use include taking
photos, recording students speaking, writing observational notes, collecting work
WHAT'Sand
samples, THE RESEARCH
talking with families. In this newsletter we will focus on writing
SAY? - 1 notes.
observation-based
Observing children
WHY? - 2as they interact with peers, use materials, try new things, practice
skills, solve problems, use motor skills, and persevere provides teachers with a wealth
of information that can be used along with the other types of benchmark and
DISPLAYING CHILDREN'S
summative assessments that are implemented.
WORK observer”
Being a “careful - 3 means planning opportunities for children to demonstrate
skills in a variety of ways, while making good decisions about when to move from the
role ofREFLECTION
an observer to&a more interactive role of asking questions and listening.
RESOURCES
By making observations
- 4 and documentations of children’s learning as part of the
day, the teacher creates a systematic daily practice to help guide children’s learning.
Conducting intentional observations helps with planning appropriate responses
(Adapting and Responding to Learning Needs) as well as uncovering what the
students understand and can do (Eliciting Evidence of Learning).
WRITING OBSERVATIONAL NOTES
* DO use a journalistic approach.
- Record the FACTS: WHO, WHAT, -Use descriptive word and direct
HOW, WHEN AND WHERE (In NC our quotes
technology platform records the date.) -Include expressions, gestures or
other actions
* DO write what you SEE and HEAR.
-Avoid making assumptions about the * DO use data to inform and improve
child’s feelings or motivation instruction.
-Resist inserting opinions, assumptions -Interpret the evidence by reflecting
or judgment on the meaningful and valuable
information collected
* DO write a description that builds a -Use the interpretation to adapt and
visual picture of the instructional respond to the learning needs of the
environment. student
WHY PUT QUALITY OBSERVATIONAL
NOTES IN THE PLATFORM?
TECHNOLOGY PLATFORM SUPPORTS
INCREASING STUDENT ACHIEVEMENT
- Once quality evidence is added to the platform the data is populated
into reports that can be used to support teachers with personalizing
instruction for students, communicating with families, and collaborating
with other educators (ELL, AIG, OT, PT, EC, etc..)
Gather your team together for an interactive, hands-on activity. For more
practice with observational notes click here. You will find an activity from
our Facilitator’s Guide for NC District Implementation Teams. This activity
provides 20 observational notes for you to analyze and decide if they would
be useful or not.