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amyable
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| Posted: Aug 22 2008 at 7:09am | IP Logged
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I was wondering if anyone out there knew of a good form or questionaire (sp?) to get one started on observing their child.
I've always been a global thinker, to the point where I can hardly pick out the details anymore! I'd love to have something to get me really *seeing* my kids, and all the areas I should be thinking about.
I hope I'm making some sense! Does anyone know of anything? It doesn't have to be "Montessori" - anything like that would be great.
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Amy
mom of 5, ages 6-16, and happy wife of 
The Highly Sensitive Homeschooler
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CatholicMommy
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| Posted: Aug 22 2008 at 7:28am | IP Logged
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I don't have a form persay, but I do have a list of items for observation I can post later.
Some of the things on it:
observe just one child (choice of activity, length of time, etc - just everything they do within a particular period of time)
observe 2+ children (interactions, non-interactions)
list of emotions displayed and how
particular activity (is it used or not, how?)
movements
words/language (just writing down every word you can catch)
I'll add more later.
:)
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Angel
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| Posted: Aug 22 2008 at 7:58am | IP Logged
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What kind of form are you looking for? Like, questionaire style? What ages?
I think that there are some in the playschool6 files, but you have to subscribe to the group before you can access them.
I don't use an observation form; instead I usually just write down notes journal style. Or I keep it in my head. 
With the little ones, I watch them a lot in their play. For instance, if I see the twins doing a lot of heavy lifting (playing delivery guy, farmer, etc), then I'll try to have some big muscle activities available. If I notice that one of them is unscrewing everything in existence, I'll try to provide appropriate unscrewing activities. If there's lots of jumping off furniture going on... well, you get the idea. (I'm really trying hard to provide a little more structure for them... at least I will try hard as soon as I kick this bronchitis.)
With the older ones, I pay attention to any grumbling/expressions of delight. What induces grumbling? What prompts delight? I look at their play, too -- what they choose to do when no one is requiring anything of them. My 5 yo will often decide to build things with tape and cardboard boxes, so I can extrapolate that activities incorporating a creative, "making" aspect are likely to be more of a hit than anything passive and less creative. The big kids will also *tell* me what they need or want a lot of the time.
Writing things down journal style at the end of the day helps me see the big picture, but it may be mostly because I "think with my fingers", as a friend of mine used to say. So I'll often start with a big, amorphous mass of details, and in the writing of it, realize that there are certain details I can pull out. Then I start to pull details out, use lots of arrows, etc., to make an action list.
Whether I actually *take* action on the action list is another thing entirely.
--Angela
Three Plus Two
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amyable
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| Posted: Aug 22 2008 at 10:01am | IP Logged
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Hmmm... I might still be a member of playschool 6, but I think I finally unsubbed a short while ago (figures, LOL!)
I'm actually thinking for any or all of my kids ages: 10, 8, 5, 3, and almost 1.
Jotting down notes journal style doesn't take me very far because I have no idea what to look for. Like it *never* would have crossed my mind to notice that my children were doing heavy lifting (maybe they just don't, LOL) - YKWIM?
Thank you for the ideas you've (both) included in your replies, though!
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Amy
mom of 5, ages 6-16, and happy wife of
The Highly Sensitive Homeschooler
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AndieF
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| Posted: Aug 22 2008 at 11:18am | IP Logged
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I do a mix of things - for my children, I've gone to a journal. Somedays, I'm very general, and other days I'm really specific about what activity they are doing and the skills they are using, when they switch activities or when I set things out, etc. On specific days, I will also usually list comments they made or if somebody fought/cried, and how it was resolved. The specific days really help me see patterns, and help me/us deal with conflict resolution better, but it is too intensive to do every day.
On days when I teach preschool, for the parents/children, I have a general form that liststhe different Montessori areas that I have set up (Practical Life, Sensorial, Science (Anatomy/Botany), Geography, Math, Art, Music & Library). I check off which areas they did that day and I usually put a general comment at the bottom about how they acted that day or if they particularly enjoyed doing a certain activity. I also have a list for myself for each presentation that I've done that I check off at the end of the week & I also check off whether they have mastered the activity or not.
Andie, homeschooling mom to two girls (8 & 6), one boy (3) and home preschool teacher to 5!
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Mackfam
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| Posted: Aug 25 2008 at 5:52pm | IP Logged
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Amy - Linking you to Montessori Materials - Observation Form (downloadable as pdf) - scroll down the page a little and you'll see the downloadable observation form. It's a very nice and comprehensive one.
I've tried using a few different forms for observing, but I found that the last thing I needed was  another piece of paper floating around.
I've gotten in the habit of going through my mental checklist more than anything else...
**In what way is a child acting out?
**Is he communicating to me a need through that behavior? (almost always he is!) A need to scoop, sort, jump, bounce, pour, assemble, dis-assemble, snuggle, tie, etc.
**I try to provide for that need in a constructive way, setting up a center for the child or a tray maybe if that fits, or even a time for the activity. I make it a top priority and I make thoughtful plans to enable the child to express their need and learn through their work.
I might make a few notes on my calendar in list form - like a list of things I want to remove, a list of materials I want to put together so I don't forget. The rest stays in my brain. I've found I'm a list girl.  So that works better for me than the observation form.
I do work from a master list that I have a system of checks, x's and stars to help me remember what I have presented, what is being worked on, and what has been mastered. Is that what you're looking for -- a checklist to prompt you for some practical life type skills??? Most of us here use Lori's Comprehensive Lists. I just saw that she now has one for toddlers!!!! It sounds like that might be more what you're looking for??? Not so much Montessori, but more skills to remember to teach/present?
Not sure if this is helpful at all...but it's a few more things to look at and give you some ideas at least! 
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Jen Mackintosh
Wife to Rob, mom to dd 19 , ds 16, ds 11, dd 8, and dd 3
Wildflowers and Marbles
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Angel
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| Posted: Aug 25 2008 at 6:51pm | IP Logged
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I've been thinking about this, particularly today as I watched the baby play with Duplos today. I tried to figure out how I observe. I think the process goes like this:
1)Is the child concentrating and engaged?
2)If so, what is he doing? (Is it safe?  )
3)How is he doing whatever he's doing? (In the instance of my 12 month old with the Duplos, I note that he likes to take them apart, then tries to fit them together until he succeeds, then he takes them apart again and repeats the process. Or I note that when handed Cheerios and a sippy cup, he always puts the Cheerios on top of the cup.)
4)How long does he spend on this activity? (Again, the Duplos. The baby has probably spent close to 1.5 hours with Duplos today -- not all at once, but in total)
This could work in reverse, too: for instance, if I put out a material that was totally ignored, or if it was ignored after I attempted to interest the child in it a few times, then I would know that it didn't fill a need at that time.
--Angela
Three Plus Two
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4Real Forums : Nurturing the Years of Wonder
Topic: Montessori Q: observation form?
