Behavioral Observation and Screening (BOSR)

frequency count

A frequency count records how often 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 member, an entire classroom, a group of staff members, or any of these combined. Use this method to identify behaviors that should be encouraged and those that may need to be addressed or accommodated.

Best Practice #4:

Never observe or screen with the intent of confirming a suspicion of delay, disability, abuse, or neglect. Instead, child care professionals: Watch for developmental milestones Document them as instructed Take action required by their program's written policies and procedures

Key Points

Effective child care professionals know the typical and atypical patterns of child growth and development. They are familiar with the child and understand the program's observation and screening policies and tools. Objective, accurate child care professionals create documentation coworkers and other professionals can use to help children grow and develop to their full potential. Honest and fair child care professionals observe children, conduct screenings, and document all relevant observations in good faith. Focused child care professionals dedicate themselves to the observation or screening session, and give each child their full attention

Observation

Observation is an ongoing process in which child care professionals recognize and document identifiable developmental milestones as they appear, using tools such as checklists, anecdotal records, and running records.

standardized tests

Standardized tests are used to document a child's ability to compare and contrast, solve a problem, classify objects, put things in sequential order, arrive at conclusions, and perform other skills. Standardized tests have specific procedures for administering, scoring, and interpreting the results. Typically, standardized tests are norm-referenced. Use standardized tests to document the development of a child compared to other children of the same age.

Best Practice #4:

Work methodically and thoughtfully. To work methodically, professionals are organized, systematic, and deliberate. To work thoughtfully, professionals think about what is happening carefully, using all of their knowledge, skills, and abilities to identify and document only useful information.

review

Review: I am selecting screening tools. You look for accuracy, reliability, and sensitivity. You assess the program's current use of technology. You perform research to find suitable endorsements. I am asking the right questions You find out what languages are available. You know the tool's target age range. You learn how many items are screened. I am following guidelines and best practices. You only use instruments for their specified purposes. You conduct screening sessions in natural settings. You are trained to conduct screening and observation sessions. I am involving families. You answer questions as you share results. You schedule confidential meetings to discuss results. You encourage parents to contact you with follow-up questions.

evaluation refers to:

CMS defines evaluation as "...procedures used by appropriate qualified personnel to determine a child's initial and continuing eligibility for Early Steps, consistent with the definition of "infants and toddlers with disabilities" in §303.16, including determining the status of the child in each of the developmental areas in 34 CFR §303.322 (c)(3)(ii). evaluation is a process that determines a child's eligibility for federal, state, and local programs and services.

Mejor Práctica #3:

Document all relevant information. Relevancy is determined by the observation or screening tool. Behavior not relevant to the current session may be documented later in another type of record.

Documentation

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. In that case, documentation refers to records that help identify a child who may be at risk of maltreatment, delay, or disability; or to relay a suspicion of child abuse or neglect

benefits of assessment

Empower parents to help their child grow and develop Improve a family's ability to navigate a complex system of services Result in a referral for evaluation so eligible children may receive benefits they are entitled to under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act, or IDEA, which is a federal law Assessment can lead to an evaluation, which may qualify the child for benefits under IDEA.

Best Practice #4

Ensure documentation is correct and complete. Here's how: Complete documentation as soon as possible Proofread for content errors Check for writing and mathematical errors Wait two or three days, then repeat the process

Best Practice #1

Ensure observation and screening results do not reflect personal feelings. Before an observation or screening session begins, effective child care professionals take a moment to: Reflect on their own feelings Prepare to focus on the facts produced during the session Disregard any presumptions

Benefits of ovbservation

Facilitate curriculum development Guide developmentally appropriate practice Assist in providing individualized care Help share information with parents and others Reveal signs of abuse and neglect

Best Practice #2 :

Observe and screen when children are at their best. In all children, the surest way to tell if they are at their best is to know their individual physical and mental health trends and patterns. To tell if a typical child is feeling well, look for the three "A"s of health: appetite, appearance, and activity. H.A.L.T. stands for Hungry Angry/Anxious Lonesome Tired In any of these states, no one is at their best.

Benefits of screening

Screening can: Identify specific areas of concern Determine if further assessment or evaluation may be necessary Provide a basis for referral Empower parents with information to help them make decisions Present a basis for necessary and ongoing communication with parents and others

Role as a child care professional

Your role as a child care professional is observation, screening, and referral. In observation and screening processes, your main responsibilities are to document the child's skills and abilities fairly, objectively, and accurately; and work with families to refer children for further assessment and evaluation. Remember, if information causes you to suspect child abuse or neglect, you must report it.

Selecting Screening Instruments

1. Quality screening instruments are easy to use 2. Quality screening instruments are accurate 3. Quality screening instruments are affordable. 4. Quality screening instruments are readily available. 5. Screening instruments are sensitive in regards to ethnicity, culture, and linguistics. 6. Quality screening instruments are reliable. 7. Quality screening instruments have specific components. 8. Quality screening instruments are endorsed by individuals, agencies, and organizations that are respected within the early education or early intervention communities. 9. Quality screening instruments using technology should be user-friendly, meet accessibility requirements, and fit the program's needs. Read More

There are three main reasons child care programs observe and screen children:

1.Observation and screening foster growth and development in every child by determining the child's developmental-age level and by using the information obtained from observation and screening to develop inside and outside learning spaces, personal care routines, communication and interaction practices, learning activities, and program policies and procedures. 2.Observation and screening can detect early signs of developmental delay or disability when child care staff members are trained to identify and document signs of typical or atypical growth and development. Since staff members see children throughout the day and have training in child growth and development, they may be in the best position to spot the earliest signs of atypical development. Therefore, staff may be in the best position to help the child and family. 3.Observation and screening can help child care professionals identify the signs of child abuse and neglect. Every adult in Florida is required by law to report any suspected abuse or neglect and can do so anonymously. However, people who work with children are required by law to identify themselves when they report suspected child abuse or neglect. Failure to report suspected abuse or neglect is a felony of the third degree in Florida.

additional reasons

4. Observation and screening support quality curriculum development by focusing learning goals and objectives, lesson plans, and teaching strategies on the development and implementation of activities that strengthen the child's skills. The best child care professionals can recognize what each child knows and can do, and uses this information to help increase skills, abilities, and knowledge. 5. Observation and screening can help parents support their child's growth and development at home by increasing the volume and quality of information available to them. When quality information is combined with the professional services provided by a child care program, a child's outcomes improve, both at the program and at home. 6.Observation and screening allow timely referral for intervention. The earlier signs of developmental delay or disability are identified, the better the outcome for the child. The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends that all children be screened for developmental delays and disabilities during regular well-child doctor visits at 9 months, 18 months, and 24 or 30 months. However, observation of a child can begin at birth. You will learn more about when and how to observe and screen children in child care programs throughout this course.

Checklist

A checklist is a list of skills and abilities to be observed. When an observer sees the child demonstrate a skill or ability from the list, he or she places a mark next to the item. The date the observation was made is often recorded, but usually nothing else is. Use a checklist when the goal is to note the presence or absence of demonstrated skills and abilities.

rating scale

A rating scale is used to measure a behavior, skill, or ability based on a series of quality points or a continuum. If you have ever been asked to rate a service or product "on a scale of one to ten," then you have used a rating scale to communicate your thoughts. Every number you could have chosen represented a quality point. Use rating scales to quantify a child's performance of a skill or a set of skills, or to see where a behavior or skill is on a developmental continuum. Rating scales can also be used to rate environments on their developmental appropriateness.

running record

A running record is an account of what a child is doing 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. Use a running record to track a child's choice of activities or behaviors over a short period of time.

Time sample

A time sample records what activities a child chooses to do during a given time period, which is usually half an hour. When a child abandons one activity and begins another, the time is noted. Use time samples to document children's attention spans, social interactions, or to see how equipment and materials meet their needs.

work sample

A work sample is a product 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 a 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. Use a work sample to allow others to observe children or their work.

assessment refers to

According to Children's Medical Services (CMS), assessment refers to "...ongoing procedures used by appropriate qualified personnel throughout the period of a child's eligibility to identify the following: (A) the child's unique strengths and needs and the services appropriate to meet those needs, and (B) the resources, priorities, and concerns of the family and the supports and services necessary to enhance the family's capacity to meet the developmental needs of their infant or toddler with a disability."

anecdotal record

An anecdotal record is a narrative account of an event written shortly after 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.

screening instruments

Child care professionals ask the right questions about a tool before using it with a child, including: What does the instrument screen? What is the target age range? What languages are available? Does the screener need to be specially trained? How many items are screened? How long does it take to administer? How is it implemented and scored?

Key Points

Child care professionals choose their methods of observation based upon the types of information they need to collect. Child care professionals conduct their observations in an informed, objective, accurate, honest, fair, and focused manner. Child care professionals use the Internet to find information about observation methods and tools used to perform observations.

why we observe?

Child care professionals observe and screen children so they can facilitate the growth and development of every child in their program, detect early signs of developmental delay or disability, and identify signs of child abuse or neglect.

key point

Child care professionals observe and screen children, and should work with families to make referrals. Observation, screening, assessment, and evaluation are interrelated processes. Child care programs should support families by observing and screening children through an ongoing, systematic process.

Best Practice #3 :

Conduct sessions in the child's natural setting with familiar staff. Children are most likely to demonstrate their skills: With a person they know In a familiar place Using materials they have seen before

- Conversation - Observation

Conversations are word-for-word 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. Transcribe a child's conversations with both peers and adults to document their ability to translate their thoughts into words, and to document development in the Language and Communication, Social and Emotional Development, and Approaches to Learning domains.

Best Practice #1

Document children's development over time.

Best Practice #3

Know how to use the observation or screening tool before attempting to use it. Be sure to: Read the instructions before the session begins Attend observation and screening training opportunities Keep up with changes in policy and procedure Never interrupt a screening session to read an instruction or ask a question about the too

Key Point

Objective, accurate child care professionals create documentation coworkers and other professionals can use to help children grow and develop to their full potential.

Module 1 review

Observation A trained adult watches a child for a half hour as she interacts with other children in the program. The adult documents the child's typical growth and development in the Social and Emotional Developmental Domain in the child's file, writes a note to the parents, and uses the information to plan future activities. Screening A trained adult watches a child for a half hour as she interacts with other children in the program. The adult documents the child's atypical growth and development as called for in a tool's Social and Emotional Developmental Domain section, and makes plans to speak to a supervisor about a possible developmental delay or disability in this domain. Assessment After reading a child's file, a trained adult asks the child to perform specific tasks. The information gained indicates the child may have a developmental delay or disability and could benefit from early intervention. The adult refers the family to a medical professional for diagnosis. Evaluation After reading a child's file, a trained adult asks the child to perform specific tasks. The adult confirms the child has a developmental disability and therefore qualifies for programs and services, by federal law.

Best Practice #3:

Pay attention to small differences and details, because it is in those one can see emerging trends and patterns of growth and development, the earliest signs of delay or disability, and subtle signs of abuse or neglect. If signs of child abuse or neglect are observed, you must, by law, report them to the Abuse Hotline.

Best Practice #1

Review appropriate general information immediately prior to an observation or screening session. This includes: Developmental domains and milestones Information about the child's abilities and unique needs

Key points

Review: Name the developmental domains and cite examples of related skills and abilities. Yes Assess a child for delay or disability. NoExplanation: In Florida, child care professionals refer families to the Florida Diagnostic and Learning Resource System's Child Find for assessment, which may result in them being referred to Children's Medical Services for evaluation of a delay or disability. Refer families to the Florida Diagnostic and Learning Resource System's Child Find. Yes Diagnose a disability. NoExplanation: Disabilities are diagnosed by medical professionals in collaboration with Children's Medical Services. Provide documented evidence of observation and screening. Yes Make a referral for evaluation. NoExplanation: In Florida, child care professionals refer families to the Florida Diagnostic and Learning Resource System's Child Find for assessment, which may result in them being referred to Children's Medical Services for evaluation of a delay or disability. Work with families who receive benefits under The Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA). Yes Use developmental milestone charts to confirm a suspicion of delay. NoExplanation: Child care professionals do not confirm or diagnose a suspicion of a delay. Instead, they use developmental milestone charts to help them, and families, better understand a child's growth and development. Provide a natural environment. Yes Use the word abnormal instead of atypical. No Explanation: Atypical means the same thing as not typical or not expected. The word abnormal may be interpreted as being harsh or judgmental by a listener. Use developmentally appropriate practice for every child in the program. Yes Determine a child's initial and continuing eligibility for services related to early intervention. NoExplanation: In Florida, Children's Medical Services performs assessment and evaluation processes to determine eligibility for programs and services under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA). Use developmentally appropriate practice for every child in the program. Yes

Review

Review: Name the developmental domains and cite examples of related skills and abilities. Yes Assess a child for delay or disability. NoExplanation: In Florida, child care professionals refer families to the Florida Diagnostic and Learning Resource System's Child Find for assessment, which may result in them being referred to Children's Medical Services for evaluation of a delay or disability. Refer families to the Florida Diagnostic and Learning Resource System's Child Find. Yes Diagnose a disability. NoExplanation: Disabilities are diagnosed by medical professionals in collaboration with Children's Medical Services. Provide documented evidence of observation and screening. Yes Make a referral for evaluation. NoExplanation: In Florida, child care professionals refer families to the Florida Diagnostic and Learning Resource System's Child Find for assessment, which may result in them being referred to Children's Medical Services for evaluation of a delay or disability. Work with families who receive benefits under The Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA). Yes Use developmental milestone charts to confirm a suspicion of delay. NoExplanation: Child care professionals do not confirm or diagnose a suspicion of a delay. Instead, they use developmental milestone charts to help them, and families, better understand a child's growth and development. Provide a natural environment. Yes Use the word abnormal instead of atypical. NoExplanation: Atypical means the same thing as not typical or not expected. The word abnormal may be interpreted as being harsh or judgmental by a listener. Use developmentally appropriate practice for every child in the program. Yes Determine a child's initial and continuing eligibility for services related to early intervention. No Explanation: In Florida, Children's Medical Services performs assessment and evaluation processes to determine eligibility for programs and services under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA). Use developmentally appropriate practice for every child in the program. Yes

Review

Review: What method would you use to note the presence or absence of demonstrated skills and abilities? Checklist What method would you use to write about the development of a skill or ability after it has occurred? Anecdotal Record What method would you use to write about what is happening while you are observing? Running Record What method would you use to identify behaviors to be addressed or accommodated? Frequency Count What method would you use to document children's abilities to translate their thoughts into words? Conversations What method would you use to document children's attention spans? Time Sample 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 quantify a child's performance of a skill or a set of skills? Rating Scale 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 identify a child who may be at risk of delay or disability? Documentation What method would you use to relay a suspicion of child abuse or neglect? Documentation

Screening

Screening is an ongoing process conducted by child care providers and others to verify that a child is developing typically or to identify early signs of delay or disability.

Screening

Screening is an ongoing process in which child care professionals use specialized observation and documentation tools to identify, document, and monitor typical development or possible developmental delay.

Best Practice #2

Set aside personal beliefs and consider only facts. Use developmentally appropriate practice (DAP) for each child, follow the law, and honor a professional code of ethics. Read More

Halo effect

The Halo Effect is a judgment error we make when we allow an overall impression of a person to influence the way we interpret his or her actions

risk factors

The risk factors for child abuse and neglect fall into three categories: child, parent and family, and societal. Children who are at risk for abuse or neglect tend to: Have parents who live in poverty, did not finish high school, abuse alcohol or other drugs, and/or do not have supportive relationships Be born prematurely, have a chronic illness or disability, and/or possess a characteristic identified by a parent as undesirable Live in communities that have high rates of poverty and violence and/or a cultural acceptance of abuse and neglect

Three main reasons

The three main reasons child care programs observe and screen children are to foster growth and development in every child, detect early signs of developmental delay or disability, and identify signs of child abuse and neglect. These processes are also used to support quality curriculum development; help parents support growth and development at home; allow timely referral for early intervention services; and provide a common reference point and basis for interaction between parents, program staff, and other professionals.

Best Practice #2

allow enough time Observe or screen one child at a time. To sharpen focus and concentration: schedule individual sessions for each child do not allow attention to be drawn away by other children have staff members work to accommodate each child's session manage the schedule to allow each session to be conducted properly.

Key points

child care professionals select screening tools based on specific quality considerations to ensure they will meet the needs of the children, their families, and the program. Child care professionals follow guidelines and best practices during observation and screening sessions so results will be usable. Child care professionals think of families as partners in the observation and screening processes.

Best Practice #2

study the child's file. Look at: The results of previous observation and screening sessions Notes recorded by staff members All documentation provided by family members Samples of the child's work Use developmentally appropriate practice (DAP) when observing and screening a child to: Show sensitivity toward chronological, individual, social, and cultural experiences Help him/her behave naturally during an observation or screening session