The Importance of Data Collection: Specifically, Writing ...€¦ · The Importance of Data Collection: Specifically, Writing Observations . What Do Preschool Children Learn? How

Kathy Freismuth, MS Transitions and Outcomes Coordinator

Michael Wells, MS Monitoring Specialist for Quality Assurance

The Importance of Data Collection: Specifically, Writing Observations

What Do Preschool Children Learn? How Do You Get Young Children to Develop to Their Fullest Potential?

Why Collect Data?

NAEYC promotes data collection

Accountability

Individualization

Growth of Children

Performance of the program

Forms of Documentation Portfolios

Growth and Development Book

Journals

Photographs

Audio

Video

Checklists

Running Records

Tallies

Rating Scales

Matrices

Work Samples

Written Anecdotals

First Clip

First Clip Observation

Two children (boys) sit at the computer. One child is controlling the mouse with his right hand, while the other child is watching the screen.

Child controlling the mouse is making a pattern (square, circle) by placing one heart after another next to each other until the pattern is complete.

What Makes a Good Observation?

Objectivity

– Know your individual children/build a relationship

– Describe behaviors only

– Listen to children/Ask open ended questions/expand on observations

– Learn from children’s families

– Check your own observations/discuss with colleagues

(Jablon, Dombro, & Dichtelmiller, 2007)

What Makes a Good Observation?

Objective/Factual Language

Write only what you see/hear

“At point of service”

Observing over time

Observing children in different settings

What Makes a Good Observation?

Focused

– Intentionally setting the environment

Non-Focused

– The moments that just happen

Time Management

Tracking System

– How you take notes

Planning and Individualizing

– Using data to plan

Second Clip- Exchange and Critique

Second Clip Observation One girl is in the dramatic play area. She is standing at

the table, taking two pieces of bread and, after reaching and grabbing a pancake, she puts the pancake between the two pieces of bread.

She then carried it to the stove, picked up a tray and put it on the tray and carried it back to the table.

She bent down and picked up a lid, put a waffle in the pot and stirred it with a spatula. Then she picked the waffle up and placed it on the spatula and then placed the waffle on the lid and carried the waffle back to the table on the lid.

Third Clip – Exchange and Critique

Third Observation Girl is at the writing table. Has yellow, red, and orange

blocks in a pattern on the table. The red and orange blocks were on top of the yellow blocks. Child says “She’s cheating.”

She then moved the orange blocks off of the yellow blocks and places them around the edges of the yellow blocks. Then she moves the orange blocks away and continues to move the red blocks, so that they touch each other.

She then puts the green triangles on top of the red blocks. But places each triangle on her right corner of the red blocks.

Compared Observations

What similarities are there between your first and third observations?

Are there differences between your first and third observations?

Conclusions

Data Collection, especially anecdotals, are important for understanding children and your program

How will the data be monitored?

Action Plan for your Agency

Special Thanks

Thanks to Family Development Services for allowing us to film the three video clips

– Service Center 2 – Terri Garcia for allowing us to use her facilities and camera/tripod

Room 5 - Ms Placido for getting parental permission to film the students and allow us to enter your classroom

Questions

Thank you and have a wonderful conference!