Observation Summary Papers
In this course, you will continue to develop your muscle as an observer by writing three Observation Summary Papers. Each Observation Summary Paper:
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- is an~2 page paper (type written, double spaced, standard 1″ margins)
- focuses on specific domain(s) of development
- analyzes your observation of:
- an infant-toddler (birth to 36 months)
- preschool age child (3-5 years old)
- young school age child (kindergarten to 2nd grade). .
The following steps will help you construct your paper:
Conducting the Observation
- Review the skills and processes for the domain targeted in the Observation Summary Paper is targeting
- Review the skills and processes for the domain targeted in the Observation Summary Paper is targeting
- Watch the video for each age group; if there is more than 1 child in the video, pick 1 child to be your “focus child”.
- Watch the video, focusing on:
- The child’s appearance. Take notes describing the child’s hair color, style, types; skin tone; facial features; body type; clothing; and age of the child.
- The physical space/setting where the observation occurred. Take notes describing the people, furniture, materials and equipment in the environment. Describe how the materials, equipment, and furniture are arranged or positioned in relation to each other.
- You can copy and paste the description of the child’s appearance from your 1st Observation Summary to your second and third Observation Summary Papers. Please make revisions to the sections based on the feedback you receive.
- Review the skills and processes for the domain(s) targeted for the Observation Summary Paper
- Re-watch the videos, identifying 2-3 skills and processes each child from each video demonstrated. Describe the behavior you observed that indicated the skills/ processes the child demonstrated.
- Review the NY Early Learning Guidelines in the targeted domain(s) for the Observation Summary Paper
- Watch the video a third time — or more — focusing on the indicators that an educators may observe in the domain, subdomain, and age from the NY Early Learning Guidelines. Note how the child demonstrated the indicator.
Observation Videos
Infant-Toddler Observation Video
Preschool Age Child
pick 1 child to focus on
Young School Age Child
pick 1 child to focus on — the video starts at the 00:57 mark
Resources for Constructing your Observation Summary Paper
Link to NY Early Learning Guidelines (2020)
Observation Summary Paper 1: Physical Development
Link to Guidelines for Observation Summary Paper: Physical Development
Link to Chart for Writing your Observation Summary Paper: Physical Development
Link to Motor Skills & Processes
Observation Summary Paper 2: Social-Emotional and Language Development
Link to Guidelines for Observation Summary: Social-Emotional & Language Development
Link to Chart for Writing Observation Summary: Social-Emotional & Language Development
Link to Social-Emotional & Language Skills & Processes
Observation Summary Paper 3: Cognitive Development
Link to Guidelines for Observation Summary Paper: Cognitive Development
Link to Chart for Writing Observation Summary Paper: Cognitive Development
Link to Cognitive Development Skills and Processes
Sample Observation Summary Paper
Link to Sample Observation Summary Paper
Link to Sample Observation Summary Paper