Observation Report

Educ. 236 Fall, 2016

Introductory Information:

Date: 10/16/17
Where Observed: The Goddard School
Type of Classroom (age level/ grade level): four year old classroom
Pseudonym of Child: Max
Age of Child: 4.3
Description of context: For about the first hour and 20 minutes we
were inside the classroom. About forty minutes of it was story time
and then they danced and listend to music. Then the next forty
minutes was free play. There were four tables throughout the room
for children do things on like crafts, two computers for games, and
toys spread throughout the entire room. One thing that I like was
that by the door they had a tree on the wall. On the tree where
pictures of each of the families, which I thought was very neat to
have.
Initial impressions of the child: Max is a Caucasian boy who looked to
be about normal height and weight. When I first walked in he was
eating snack and seemed content. He has a lot of energy, but when
playing with toys he often stayed doing the same thing for long
periods of time.

Developmental Domains:

Cognitive Domain Cognition

Mileston Examples Source

e
Sorts Max was playing a computer EDUC 236
groups of game where he was sorting Milestones
objects in objects based on shape and
more color.
than one
way (e.g,
by shape
and
Understa Max was playing a computer EDUC 236
nds the game where he had to match Milestones
idea of specific shapes.
same
and
different
(x1)
Draws Max played a computer game EDUC 236
objects where he was building a boat out Milestones
without of different shapes and was not
models following a model at all.
(x1)
Draws a N/O EDUC 236
person Milestones
with 2 to
4 body
parts
Plays N/O EDUC 236
board or Milestones
card
games

Cognitive Domain Language

Mileston Examples Source

e
Tells During circle time the teacher EDUC 236
stories was reading a book about Milestones
(x1) helicopters. In the middle of it
the teacher asked if anyone has
ever seen a helicopter before
and Max raised his hand. Max
told a story of when he saw a
helicopter with his dad.
Tells you During one of the books, the EDUC 236
what he teacher stopped halfway through Milestones
thinks is and asked Max what he thought
going to would happen next and he was
happen able to say what he thought and
next in a he was accurate.
book
(x1)
Can say N/O EDUC 236
first and Milestones
last
name
Tells N/o EDUC 236
familiar Milestones
stories
without
picture
cues
Understa N/O EDUC 236
nds the Milestones
seasons
of the
year and
what you
do in
each

Social/Emotional Domain

Milestone Examples Source

Is more and I was very impressed with EDUC 236
more creative Max. Max and a couple of his Milestones
with make- friends played transformers
believe play when they were outside
(x2) playing. Each one was a
different transformer and they
were fighting a make-believe
enemy.
Cooperates When he would play with other EDUC 236
with other children, Max would play very Milestones
children (x4) well with them. He was nice,
did not get into any fights, and
they seemed to be having fun.
Talks about When it was time to cleanup EDUC 236
own feelings and get ready to go outside, Milestones
(x1) Max became angry. He hit
things on the ground and
crossed his arms. When the
teacher came over to ask him
 what was wrong, he said he
was angry because it was too
cold outside and he was
having fun. He was able to
express what he was feeling
through his words.
Has best Max does not seem to have EDUC 236
friend of one best friend. However, I Milestones
same gender. observed that whenever Max
(x1) was playing with other children
he would be playing the same
three boys. I may not have
observed one best friend, but I
observed that Max is forming
close relationships with three
certain boys.
Shows pride N/O EDUC 236
in Milestones
accomplishm
ents

Physical domain/ Fine Motor Development

Milestone Examples Source

Feeds self with When I first went to the EDUC 236
few spills (x1) classroom, Max was eating Milestones
applesauce out of a container
with a spoon. He had no spills
and was very clean.
Zips, handles When it was time to go EDUC 236
various simple outside, Max had a jacket Milestones
fasteners (x1) with a zipper and he was able
to zip the jacket up all by
himself.
Shows a When I observed Max eating EDUC 236
preference for and using mouse for the Milestones
being right- computer, I saw that he was
handed or left- using his left-hand. This may
handed. indicate that he is showing a
 preference for being left-
handed.
Handles books N/O EDUC 236
efficiently Milestones
Copies drawing N/O EDUC 236
a square Milestones

Physical Domain/ Gross Motor Development

Milesto Examples Source

ne
Hops, When he was first out on the EDUC 236
gallops, playground, Max was playing Milestones
runs transformers and was running
with around with ease and I have to
ease say he was very fast for his age.
(x1)
Throws Max was throwing a ball around EDUC 236
a ball, with three other boys. Milestones
directed
(x1)
Stops Max was dancing to a song and in EDUC 236
readily the song they would say stop and Milestones
(x1) go. Max was able to stop well.
Avoids N/O EDUC 236
obstacle Milestones
s
Walks N/O EDUC 236
on a line Milestones

Summary of development across domains

- Briefly summarize development in each domain. DESCRIBE what you
observed and STATE how it demonstrates the attainment of a developmental
milestone.
Cognitive Domain: I would say that Max has reached a lot of
the milestones in the cognitive domain. One thing I was impressed
with during the time that I observed him, Max was asked to guess
what he thought what would happen next in the story. He was able
 to guess and his guess was very accurate. Max is also able to sort
groups of objects by shape and color, which he was doing in a
computer game. He was also able to draw objects without models,
which is what he did when he made a boat on the computer. Maxs
language is developing well also. He was able to tell a story to the
class about the time when he and his dad saw a helicopter.
Physical Domain Fine Motor Development: Maxs fine
motor skills are developing well. He was able to zip up his jacket by
himself when going outside, he was able to feed himself with no
spills, and he is starting to show a preference to his left hand. When
he was eating his snack and using the mouse on the computer, I
observed Max using his left hand, which may indicate that he is
starting to build a preference for his left hand.
Physical Domain Gross Motor Development: Max has
great gross motor development as well. As his teacher told me, He
has a crazy throwing arm. I observed this on the playground and
Max is able to throw very well. He is also able to run very well. I also
observed him able to stop readily during one of the songs at circle
time. He had to stop when the song said stop and he as able to do
that with ease.
Social/Emotional Domain-Max is a very social boy, who plays
well with others. He seemed to be finding his own friend group
because he played with the same three boys in the classroom, as
well as outside. He was creative with make-believe play. When he
was inside he pretended to make an airplane and have it fly around,
while he was outside he played transformers with his friends and
they had an imaginary battle. Max was also able to talk about his
feelings. When it was time to cleanup inside so that they could go
outside, Max became upset. When the teacher asked what was
wrong he said he was upset because it was too cold outside and he
was having fun playing inside. Max was able to express his feelings
through his words and tell the teacher what was happening.
Aesthetic Domain: During circle time the teachers had the
children sing and dance to multiple songs. Max was able to jump
around and dance to the music. His favorite song seemed to be the
dinosaur song because he was singing along with the music.

Note: As you get into the older ages, you may not observe development in
all the domains, as in gross motor. Do what you can; if possible, you may
even ask the teacher for her input. If you have no data, just list the
milestones in the Milestone column and write not observed
Conclusion: From my observations I would conclude that Max is developing as
expected. He is reaching milestones in all of the domains. He is a younger four, so
there are some milestones that I did not observe, but I feel those milestones will
come as he gets to be an older four. I would say that parents/caregivers should not
be concerned about Maxs development.

Please write one to two sentences about the childs development overall. Is the
child developing as expected? Are there milestones that the child has yet to reach?
If so, should the parents/caregivers be concerned? If so, do you have
recommendations for the parents/caregivers?