Early Childhood Resources Early Childhood Resources

Creating an Observation Systems and Records

by Carly Lloyd on April 4, 2011

Within any setting, creating an observation system and record is always a great idea. If you are working within a prior to school setting, the regulations dictate how many observations need to be compiled each month, according to how many days they attend.

Focusing specifically within prior to school settings these are the steps that I took to develop my observation record:

Create a table format in Word or similar, using six columns and then as many rows as needed [depends on how many children you have to observe].

Once you have that then you can put the children’s names in the first column, and observations 1-4 across the next four columns. In the final column this can be a space for extra comments or observations. As not every child will need four observations, shade the extra columns for those that attend three days or less in a light grey [this will enable you to write over if you do happen to see and write an observation, but allows you to see how you are going with your tracking].

Then as you complete each observation, write the date in the box and then you have a record for each month.

If you have computer-based portfolio’s be sure to update them as soon as you write an observation, it is a lot easier then having to go back and check to see if you put that observation in yet.

But who should you observe on what day?

Well this is where you set up a monthly, fortnightly or weekly observation system. I set mine up as a monthly chart and have around two children per day to observe, which means that they are my focus children for that day however, it does not mean that if I don’t notice something else I wouldn’t note it down.

So for this I just created a five column table with either five rows [monthly], three rows [fortnightly] or two rows [weekly].

Along the top you write the headings as the days of the week. Then in the rows place the children’s names in. Be sure to make sure that the child attends on that day too!

It is a good idea to spread your observations for each child across the month, so if a child comes only one day per week, observe them two out of four weeks that they attend [e.g. week 2 and 4] which will space out the observation dates and give a holistic view of that child.

Grab a premade template: Observation System-Record Template

Any questions? Leave a comment or shoot through an email.

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Clinton Gregory’s Secret

by Carly Lloyd on April 1, 2011

I am a fan of Australian author and illustrators, and Bruce Whatley is a big favourite of mine.

Clinton Gregory's Secret'

Clinton Gregory’s Secret is a book about a little boy who has a secret. Actually, he has several secrets. The picture book then goes and shares his secrets. At the end of the book, we see Clinton Gregory asleep and it links to the new secrets, of next week.

The picture book has amazing visual aesthetics with each page drawing the reader and audience further into Clinton Gregory’s world. The language is sophisticated, yet, simple. Once the humour is added, then the children are left in awe of the text.

When reading a picture book, there are always ways in which the text can be then used again to further develop a skill or area of learning. It is never just about English, rather it can often extend into Mathematics, Science, Physical Development and Education, Creative Arts, Language, and Technology.

Using Clinton Gregory’s Secret, the following areas can be explored:

English
Furthering the text, asking the children to continue the story, what happened next?
Having the students share a secret or a made up secret, and detailing the secret.
Looking at the text for sight words.
Exploring words that haven’t been introduced into the vocabulary.
Exploring other texts written by Bruce Whatley.

Mathematics
Sequencing the days of the week.
Specifically looking at what happened on each day of the week.
Estimating what could happen in the next week.
Counting how many people/animals Clinton Gregory meets.

Personal Development/Health/Physical Education + HSIE
Discussing secrets.
Discussing friendships, and what makes a friend.

Creative Arts
Developing music to be played with each secret.
Recreating their own secrets using a variety of materials.
Acting out the picture book.

Languages
Looking up certain words in a different language.

Science and Technology
Exploring dinosaurs.

These are just some of the ways that Clinton Gregory’s Secret can be used and explored.

[Purchase from QBD]

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Fun and Games

by Carly Lloyd on February 4, 2011

Games are a fun way to play with the children on a level where you too can be an active participant. These games don’t require any props so can be played on short notice.

Hide and seek

Depending on the age group will depend on what you are counting too. Generally it is between ten and twenty. During this time, the other children hide. When the child has finished counting they call out, “Ready or not! Here I come!” and goes off in search of the other children. The first person found is the next person to count in the next round.

This is a fun game that can be played with three year olds and up, generally when playing with three year olds, I have hidden with them {in a nannying context rather than long day care setting}. To make it more interesting for the older children, by playing in the dark and using torches is a great modification! I have played this with children from around five, however again this was in a nannying context and was with the youngest child throughout.

On the River, On the Bank

Using chalk/rope/string/tape/etc to mark a line down the carpet and have the children stand on one side of the line. If they are standing closest to you {in front of the line} that is the bank, if they are standing over the line {further away from you} that is the river. You then call out, ‘On the river’ or ‘On the bank’ and the children jump back and forth. This can be played with children four years and up.

Port and Starboard

One player is the captain, the other children follow the captain’s orders {the children can get “out” if they miss an order but this is optional}.
The Orders are -

: To the ship: run to the captain’s right
: To the island: run to the captain’s left
: Hit the deck: lay down on your stomach (or if players don’t want to get dirty, they can crouch down)
: Attention on deck: salute and yell, “Aye, aye captain!” – must stay in that position until captain yells, “At ease!” (ie even if the captain gives a different order such as “to the ship” the crew must continue to remain at attention until told “at ease”)
: Scrub the deck: everyone on their knees scrubbing
: Captain’s Quarters: everyone ran towards the captain.
: Sick turtle: Everyone falls onto their backs and waves hands and feet in the air.
: Bow: Run to the front of the boat
: Stern: Run to the back
: Port: Run to the left side of the boat
: Starboard: Run to the right side of the boat.

When playing this game, depending on the ages of your children will significantly depend on the number of orders you have. Also, keep in mind if this game is played over a period of time, the orders will become easier to remember. {There are a lot more orders but are mainly for large groups}. The game can be played inside the house or out in the backyard.

If playing with children of four years, keep instructions simple using four key orders and slowly building up depending on age group and setting.

Statues/Freeze

The children dance to the music whilst it is playing and when the music stops, they freeze. Children from four years or even younger can enjoy this game, but the concept of stopping and “freezing” may still need a little more practice.

We’re Going on a Bear Hunt

Re-enacting this favourite will be a great way to spend the afternoon. Use the story and walk around with your children through the grass and the mud {pretend} and make it a fun experience. You could also make props using large cardboard and keep so that it can be used repeatedly. Once finished the children could then draw what they saw on their walk.

Something fun for children of all ages, but around three would be a good age to introduce and could easily be down with a mixed age group.

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Bee, Bee Bumble Bee

by Carly Lloyd on February 3, 2011

When with a group of new students, one quick and easy way to learn children’s names is to sing this song:

{Teacher} “Bee, bee bumble bee. Can you sing your name for me?”
{Child} “My name is ______.”

If you have a prop of a bee the children pass this around the group once they have sung their name.

I was taught this song during a music based unit, something which I don’t find myself too talented in, and we learnt and discussed the need to give the children the pitch and tone that they should too be singing in.

“Bee, Bee Bumble Bee” is quite a high pitched song with a slow tempo.

Do you have any songs that you use to learn children’s names?

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Water Play

by Carly Lloyd on February 2, 2011

Water play is one of the best activities that can be set up in the summer time. Whether you are filling a tub with water or playing with the hose, it is not only a lot of fun but it creates some comfort to our hot summers.

There are a lot of different ways to add extra items to water play, to change the dynamic of the play, such as:

: Adding a range of different sized containers that can be filled and refilled
: Adding objects that will sink or float
: Adding food colouring to make the water a different colour
: Using water coloured pencils for drawing and then splashing water onto that drawing and watching what happens
: Making boats from different materials to see which will float the best

What is something that you have used to extend water play?

The most important thing to remember about water play is to stay safe and always supervise the children. Any amount of water can be deadly to a child. Also, please remember to Slip, Slop, Slap {even if it looks overcast}!

{Image is of Lucy’s children and was given permissions to be used on Early Childhood Resources}