Identifying the Lenses Through Which Staff and Families Observe Children
Learn ways to help education staff and families be mindful that many things can influence what they notice and how they interpret their observations about infants and toddlers.
Child Screening and Assessment
Screening and assessment provide valuable information about each child's interests, strengths, and needs. Screening gives a snapshot of whether the child's development is on track. Assessment is an ongoing process that includes observation and provides information about development over time. Systematic, ongoing child assessment provides information on children's development and learning. It helps inform curriculum planning, teaching, and individualizing for each child across all Head Start Early Learning Outcomes Framework domains.
What Is Observation?
Learn how observing children is a key part of what education staff in Head Start infant toddler programs do daily. Observation involves focus, purpose, and watching and listening to learn about individual children.
Child Observation: The Heart of Individualizing Responsive Care for Infants and Toddlers
Learn about ways to observe infants and toddlers—a key part of the ongoing child assessment cycle. Explore strategies to support this important component of quality infant and toddler care.
Using Ongoing Child Assessment to Support Effective Teaching Practices
In this episode of Teacher Time, learn about the ongoing assessment process. Discover ways to collect, analyze, and use data to inform and improve infant and toddler teaching practices.
Screening, Assessment, Evaluation, and Observation
Explore these tools for learning about a child. They provide information about each child's interests, strengths, and needs.
Look at Me! Using Focused Child Observation with Infants and Toddlers
Watch this video podcast that introduces viewers to using focused observation with infants and toddlers and gives them an opportunity to “try out” some of the techniques discussed.
Clearing Your View: Staying Objective in Observation
Watch this video that explains how to observe babies and record what is seen in an objective way that will help staff understand the meaning of the child's behavior.