Behavioral Observation and Screening Mod 4

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

2. Checklist

Which method would you use to... document children's ability to translate their thoughts into words?

3. Conversations

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

4. Documentation

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

4. Documentation

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 for themselves.

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

10. Work Sample

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

7. Running Record

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

8. Standardized Tests

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

1. Anecdotal Record

Which method would you use to... identify how often behaviors to be addressed or accommodated?

5. Frequency Count

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

6. Rating Scale

Which method would you use to... document children's attention span?

9. Time Sample

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 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.

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, and Approaches to Learning domains.

checklist

is a list 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 obser. was made is often recorded, but nothing else. Use a checklist when the goal is to note the presence or absence of demonstrated skills and abilities.

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.

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.

rating scale

is used to measure a behavior, skill, or ability based on a series of quality points or a continuum. If you've 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 see where a behavior or skill is on a developmental continuum. Rating scales can also be used to rate environments on their developmental appropriateness.

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, or any of these combined. Use this method to identify behaviors to be encouraged and those which may need to be addressed or accommodated.

time sample

records what activities 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. Use time samples to document children's attention spans, social interactions, or to see how equipment and materials meet their needs.

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 to relay a suspicion of child abuse or neglect.