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See It, Try It
November 26, 2008
Simplify, slow down, be kind. And don’t forget to have art in your life – music, paintings, theater, dance and sunsets…
-Eric Carle
In her Exchange article "Seeing Children" (which can be viewed in its entirety for free on the Exchange website) Deb Curtis told this story...

"A few years ago when I was teaching preschool I discovered that I could learn to see the children’s perspectives in very powerful ways if I observed them closely and then tried out what they were doing. I had been frustrated with a group of boys who had taken to zooming the small cars off of block ramps that they built. They would fling the cars across the tilted ramps, watching them fly through the air, hitting the ceiling, the windows, and sometimes people. I spent a lot of time trying to stop their behavior, but to no avail.

"After the boys left one day, my co-teacher and I decided to try out the cars and ramps ourselves. Much to our surprise we had a blast! We experienced the excitement and challenge as we built the ramps and zoomed the cars. With this new perspective, we approached the children’s work in a very different way. We offered the boys challenges to build their ramps more carefully and control the speed more accurately. They took up our suggestions and the activity became a focused, complex learning experience for all. Since then, trying out what they are doing has become a regular practice for me to see children more clearly."


Exchange has over 85, sixteen-page Beginnings Workshop curriculum units written by the leading experts in our field. Two units addressing "Observation" are:

Observing Children ($7.00) with these articles...

  • Observation - The Primary Tool in Assessment by Kay Stritzel Rencken
  • To See Each Child with Wisdom, Humor, and Heart by Sally Cartwright
  • You've Got the Records — Now What Do You Do with Them? by Nancy Balaban
  • Observations Are Essential in Supporting Children's Play by Gretchen Reynolds

Observation and Assessment ($7.00) with these articles...

  • No Ordinary Moments: Using Observations With Toddlers by Deb Curtis
  • Learning to See . . . Seeing to Learn by Diane C. MacLean
  • Observation — The Path to Documentation by Beth MacDonald
  • Growing a Culture of Inquiry: Observation as Professional Development by Ann Pelo

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Comments (3)

Displaying All 3 Comments
veronicav · January 02, 2009
ccrr head start
rochester, mn, United States


Being a teacher and homevisitor, has given me the opportunity to see the whole child. This has helped me to plan activities around the child's behavoir. It has been very rewarding to see the children explore in all the areas and activities that have been set up in the classroom. I encourage all teachers/parents to provide opportunities for children to explore thier creativity.

nicole · November 30, 2008
Australia


A great article that really makes you think about how you view children and the experiences they are involved in! This article will be the catalyst for discussion at our next staff meeting

Kanicha · November 26, 2008
Harambee
Pasadena, Ca, United States


My program is going on its third year. We are struggling to fill our enrollment. What can I do? My executive director is excepting me to enroll nine more children. Any suggestions.s



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