Sunday, October 5, 2014

Blog #5 - Observations

I believe that observation is the best way to assess how a child is learning and developing.  This allows the teacher to observe the child’s behavior and the teacher getting to know the child as an individual.  Observation is important for pre-k and primary age because it’s the most direct way to see how or if the child is progressing in learning or developing.

 When reading about using technology while observing, I wondered if we can videotape a student without getting parental consent first.


 I believe the advantages of informal assessment do outweigh the disadvantages.   The text said that the focus of the classroom assessment is to encourage students to produce knowledge, rather than to reproduce knowledge.  Piaget’s believed that children construct knowledge; assessments can stress the child’s active involvement in learning, which is displayed through performance of tasks or examples of work, rather than through assessments that are limited to mastering the skill.  When reading this, I wondered, why do we have standardized testing if it really limits their learning.  Anecdotal records are quick and easy to do.  The running records give a better snapshot of what has occurred over a period of time and really is a great tool to aid the teacher in what and if the child is developing and learning.  When reading, I wondered if anecdotal records are used for more than just the behavior of a child.  Can anecdotal records be used to record how they are doing in reading or math?  You could put post-it notes in their file about other observations other than just behavior.  To me, the informal assessment allows the child to act in a normal way, and they feel comfortable doing so, and the teacher in turns gets a more accurate example of what the child can do.  

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