HEAD START®

Observation and Recording: Tools for Decision Making

Training Guides for the Head Start Learning Community

Table of Contents | Preface | Introduction | Module 1 | Module 2 | Module 3 | Module 4
| Continuing Professional Development | Resources
Appendices: Appendix A | Appendix B | Appendix C | Appendix D | Appendix E

Appendix E -Description of Observation Instruments

Introduction

This guide references several standardized observation instruments. Participants may want to make use of these instruments in their work with children. Although some of these instruments are primarily designed for program evaluation, they all have components that require observations of adult interactions with children. These instruments have all been field tested and lend themselves to being used with a partner to increase inter-rater reliability skills.

Assessment Checklist

Abbott-Shim, Martha and Sibley, Annette. Assessment Profile for Early Childhood Programs. Atlanta: Quality Assist, 1987.

This easy-to-use checklist has several versions that would be of interest to Head Start staff: preschool (with separate instruments for research and training purposes), infant, and family child care. The preschool version examines the components of quality in six areas: safety, health, learning environment, scheduling, interacting, and individualizing. All versions may be purchased for $27.75 each from:

Quality Assist
P.O. Box 15034
Atlanta, GA 30333
1-404-577-8880

Rating Scale

Harms, Thelma and Clifford, Richard. Early Childhood Environmental Rating Scale. New York: Teachers College Press, 1980.

The Early Childhood Environmental Rating Scale (ECERS) and its companion instruments, the Infant & Toddler Environmental Rating Scale (ITERS) and the Family Day Care Rating Scale (FDCRS), are observation- based instruments used to assess the quality of care. All use a sevenpoint scale that judges caregiver skills. Scores represent care that ranges from inadequate to minimal to good to excellent. The rating scales examine the following components of caregiving: space and furnishings for care and learning, basic care, language and reasoning, learning activities, social development, and adult needs. Copies of versions may be purchased for $8.95 each (sets of 30 extra scoring sheets are $7.95 each) from:

Teachers College Press
Columbia University
1924 Amsterdam Avenue
New York, NY 10027
1-800-575-6566
1-212-678-3929

Observation Record

High/Scope Child Observation Record (COR) for ages 2 1/2-6, is an innovative evaluation instrument that measures the effect of the early childhood program experience on the developmental status of young children. The use of this instrument helps observers to: focus observations to capture meaningful and objective information about child development; streamline the note-taking process; incorporate information gained from the COR into daily/weekly plans for children; empower parents through parent reporting and parent-teacher conference strategies; and develop effective training and monitoring procedures.

The COR KIT, WP1084SET, $90.00, includes all the materials needed for observing a classroom of twenty-five children. Replacement components and Parent Report Forms in Spanish are available separately.

COR Key Experience Notes were developed as a supplement to the COR KIT in an alternative note-taking format for teachers who wish to record COR information in terms of the High/Scope key experiences. Order number WP1092, $4.00.

These materials may be purchased from:

High/Scope Press
600 N. River Street
Ypsilanti, MI 48198-2898
1-800-40-PRESS; Fax: 1-800-442-4FAX (4439)

Sampling System

Meisels, Samuel J. The Work Sampling System. Ann Arbor: The University of Michigan, 1992.

This comprehensive approach to the assessment of children from age three to grade three combines developmental checklists, portfolios, and teacher summary reports. Assessments, which take place three times per year, are designed to reflect the actual goals and objectives of the classroom and to help the teacher keep track of continuous progress. The observation-based developmental checklist examines seven areas: personal/social development; language and literacy; mathematical thinking; scientific thinking; social and cultural understanding; art and music; and physical development. Copies may be purchased (teacher materials are $61, a one-time cost, and student materials are $3 per student and come in sets of 20, 25, 30, 35, and 40) from:

Rebus Planning Associates
P.O. Box 1746
Ann Arbor, MI 48106
1-800-435-3085

Professional Development Opportunities

The High/Scope Educational Research foundation offers two-day seminars on the COR in locations throughout the United States. For more information or to cosponsor a workshop at your location, call 313-485-2000, ext. 218.

The publishers and authors of the other instruments discussed in this section also provide training. For more information, call the phone numbers listed.