Early Childhood Professional Development & Resources
RespectingChildren.com
Interested in a topic not listed? Contact the instructor, Karen Rucker, regarding the possibility of customizing a session to address your center's specific professional development needs or to address a specific age group. For additional information, click on the Contact tab or send an email to krucker@RespectingChildren.com or call 717-314-8368.
OBSERVATION
Observing Young Children Using Anecdotal Notes (2 hrs / C2) Observation provides a window into the child's thinking processes, interests, skills and abilities. Learn how to use anecdotal notes to record observations of young children and discuss how this valuable information can be used to inform program decisions and the assessment of children. Photographs and video clips used to practice observation skills.
NOTE: Formerly titled "Observing Young Children"
Using Alternate Methods of Observation to Document Children's Growth and Development (2 hrs / C2) The most common method of observation is anecdotal notes. However, there are other methods of observation that supplement anecdotal notes to provide additional insight into children's learning. Designed for the practitioner who already has a working knowledge of observation, this session focuses on a number of alternative strategies, including running records, time sampling, analyzing artifacts, tallies and more.
NOTE: Formerly titled "Methods of Observation"
PORTFOLIOS
Using Portfolios to Document and Support Children's Development (2 hrs / C1) Portfolios capture children's development over time and provide concrete evidence of their thinking processes. Participants will learn how to set up portfolios and how they can be used not only as a tool to illustrate development, but also as a guide to program planning, assessment and partnering with families.
Observation Methods
Karen Rucker, M.S.
ECE Master Trainer
717-314-8368