Behavioral Observation and Screening Module 4: Methods of Observation and Screening in child care

List observation methods commonly seen in child care settings.

1. checklist 2. Anecdotal Record 3. Running Record 4. Frequency Count 5. Conversations 6. Time Sample 7. Standardized tests 8. Rating Scale 9. Work Sample 10. Documentation

What method would you use to compare a child's development to other children of the same age?

Standardized tests

What method would you use to observe a child's skill by using a product they have created?

Work Sample

What method would you use to document children's abilities to translate their thoughts into words?

Conversations

What method would you use to identify a child who may be at risk of delay or disability?

Documentation

Common observation methods used in child care settings: A checklist is a________________________________of skills and abilities to be observed. When an observer sees the child demonstrate one, he or she places a mark next to the item. The date the observation was made is often recorded, but usually nothing else. Use a checklist when the goal is to note the presence or absence of______________________________________skills and abilities.

List Demonstrated

Standardized tests are used to document a child's_________________________________to compare and contrast, solve problem, classify objects, put things in sequential order, arrive at conclusions, and other skills. Standardized tests have specific procedures for administrating, scoring, and interpreting the results. Typically, Standardized test are norm-referenced.

Ability

A rating scale is used to measure a behavior, skill, or ability based on a series of quality______________________________or a continuum. Rating scales can also be used to rate environments on their developmental appropriateness.

Points

What method would you use to quantify a child's performance of a skill or a set of skills?

Rating Scale

What method would you use to write about what is happening while you are observing?

Running Record

What kind of of manner do child care professionals conduct their observations?

Child care professionals conduct their observations in an informed, objective,accurate, honest, fair, and focused manner.

There are multiply ways to report suspicions of child abuse/or neglect. Child care professionals can:

*Call the Abuse Hotline (1-800-96Abuse or 1-800-962-2873) or call through the TDD line *Report online through the Abuse Hotline website at https://reportabuse.dcf.state.fl.us/ *Fax the information to the Abuse Hotline at www.dcf.state.us/programs/abuse/docs/faxreport.pdf

A time sample records what__________________________________a child chooses to do during a given time period, which is usually a half hour. When a child abandons one activity and begins another, the time is noted.

Activities

What method would you use to write about the development of a skill or ability after it has occurred?

Anecdotal Record

Describe how and when to use different observation methods.

Checklist- When a observer sees the child demonstrate a skill or ability from a list, he or she places a mark next to the item. Anecdotal Record- Tells what a child did, when he/she did it, how he did it, and what happened afterward. Running Record- To document how children are responding to their environment and account of what the child is doing as it happening. Frequency count- Records how often a behavior happens. Conversations- Transcribe a child's conversations with peers and adults to document their ability to translate their thoughts into words and to document development in the language and communications, social and emotional development and approaches to learning domains. Time sample- When a child abandons one activity and begins another, the time is noted. Standardized tests- Used to document a child's ability to compare and contrast, solve a problem, classify objects, put things in sequence order, arrive at conclusions and perform other skills. Rating Scale- Used to measure a behavior, skill, or ability based on a series of quality points or a continuum. Work Sample- Can be two-dimensional such a drawing or writing sample or three-dimensional such as a sculpture. documentation- Refers to records that help identify a child who may be at risk of maltreatment, delay or disability; or relay a suspicion of child abuse or neglect.

What do child care professionals choose their methods of observation based upon?

Child care professionals choose their methods of observation based upon the types of information they need to collect.

What method would you use to relay a suspicion of child abuse or neglect?

Documentation

A running record is an account of what a child is______________________________as it is happening. Running records are also used to document how children are responding to their environment. For example, children's actions are recorded as they move between chosen activities

Doing

An anecdotal record is a narrative account of an_____________________________written shortly__________________________________________________ it occurred. It tells what a child did, when he did it, how he did it, and what happened afterward. It does not contain references to emotions, feelings, or other details that cannot be measured. Use an anecdotal record to write about the development of a skill or ability.

Event After

What method would you use to identify behaviors to be addressed or accommodated?

Frequency Count

A frequency count records________________________________________a behavior happens. It can be used in almost any aspect of the program that involves human behavior, whether it occurs in a child, a staff members, an entire classroom, a group of staff, or any of these combined.

How often

A work sample is a____________________________________created by a child that becomes documentation of the development of a skill. The work sample can be two dimensional, such as a drawing or writing sample, or three dimensional, such as sculpture. It could be a photograph or a video of a child building a block tower, or a recording of one singing a song or telling a story.

Product

Documentation refers to everything in a child's file, but that word can have a special meaning when it is used in reference to child observation. Then, documentation refers to records that help identify a child who may be at risk of maltreatment, delay, disability, or relay a________________________________of child abuse or neglect. When you suspect abuse or neglect, document and report it immediately, following your lawful duties. A child's life may be at stake.

Suspicion

What method would you use to document children's attention spans?

Time Sample

Conversations are_______________________________________accounts of what children said while being interviewed by a provider. Many times, this is done phonetically, non-verbal communication, or body language, is also recorded.

Word for Word

What method would you use to note the presence or absence of demonstrated skills and abilities?

checklist