For those teachers who are trying to find a resource that will help them learn more about observation and how this links with implementing a curriculum effectively, I would suggest reading the book the Power of Observation by Judy R. Jablon, Amy Laura Dombro and Margo L. Dichtelmiller. Available through the National Association for the Education of Young Children’s website www.naeyc.org, it provides teachers with very practical ideas and guidelines. The authors state that “getting to know children as people and as learners gives you the information you need to be an effective decision maker in the classroom. With the information you learn from observing, you can select the right materials, plan appropriate activities, and ask questions that guide children in learning to understand the world around them.”
If you are looking for tips on how to observe your students, another great text is Kidwatching, Documenting
Children’s Literacy Development by Gretchen Owocki and Yetta Goodman!