Anecdotal Recordings

Anecdote: A short account of an interesting or humorous incident.

ANECDOTAL RECORDS
What are they?
Brief account of any happening, recorded with notes as it is happening and elaborated upon later in the day. Told like a story in narrative form, including direct quotes from the participants. Report of whatever seems noteworthy, although often is atypical behavior.

Anecdotal records are

An open method, assuming that it preserves the raw data provided by detailed description. Can be highly selective if only very unusual behavior is targeted but is usually less selective. Inferences are made afterwards and kept separate from the recording.

Anecdotal Records can be

A. General notes
OR with no specific focus in mind.

B.

Topical with SPECIFIC

1. BEHAVIOR (cooperation, reasoning, social participation) OR 2. EVENT (snack time, group time, arrival, departure, dramatic play)

They can:
FOCUS ON AN INDIVIDUAL CHILD
Record childs actions, behaviors, interactions. Identify childs response to specific activities, materials, experiences, people. Identify a childs interests. Evaluate play interactions. Assess childs knowledge, skills, dispositions.

They can also

FOCUS ON A GROUP OF CHILDREN
Evaluate appropriateness of equipment, materials and experiences. Evaluate effectiveness of routines, schedules, transitions. Evaluate effectiveness of limits and guidance techniques.

What to include:
Include information that identifies the setting including the date, time of day, brief description of surroundings, or any other information that is necessary to describe the conditions under which the observation was conducted. Action is recorded in sequence
Anecdote should have a beginning, middle and end.

Include 3 levels of action:

Main Action: Ellen and Mary were putting
puzzles together on the floor.

Support Action: Ellen was putting the hospital

puzzle together.

Relevant Details: How the action was carried out; the qualitative or descriptive addition to the anecdote. Ellen carefully put
each piece in the puzzle until it was completed.

 Include relevant action and vocalization of central character. Include relevant reactions and responses of other people. Remain objective and factual.

How to write it:

Record a few phrases and key words for elaboration later. Write complete anecdote as soon after as possible to preserve accuracy of record. Quote exact words and include relevant description to preserve accuracy of record. Record observations in exact order of sequence. Interpret anecdote - make interpretations that can be clearly justified by the observation. Make recommendations as indicated.

Anecdotal records may be used to: Portray an incident that indicates a childs development in a specific area. Record a humorous incident to share with families. Preserve the details of a curious incident for later reflection.

Record the exact details of a childs disclosure of an incidence of abuse. Exemplify a childs typical behavior. Record the details of an incident that is totally foreign to the childs typical behavior.

The Anecdotal Record is a narrative account of an incident that may be a few seconds or several minutes in length.

The Anecdotal Recording recounts the event, telling the reader: WHEN WHERE WHO
and

WHAT.

It does not answ the questio WHY in er n the body of the recording.

y Thatconclusion or infe renceis separaed from the recording(see t Signifcance form). i on y An infe rence is an informed jud nt or con gme clusion b asedon observation.

SUPPORTING NOTES
Example: When we see a child crying our inference is that the child is sad or hurt. We may or may not be correct.
Consider yourself a newspaper reporter, police officer or insurance claims adjuster. Your written facts on the scene or very shortly thereafter are the most accurate.

When an event occurs that is important to remember:

y y
A few otes are jotted d ow to refer t o later. If a i teresti g co versatio is appe i g it is rec orded word for word. It is writte as m c as poss ible as it is appe i g. Use yo r ow abbreviated form of ote taki g. By t e e d of yo r day t e otes are amplified a d rewritte i to a f ll acco w ile t e details are still fres . t

Refer to first fig re. 1. Sets the stage for the reader, I c bbies n dressing for o tdoor play.

2. Identifies the characters, target child by fake name. Abbreviations are used in the writing for speed. Sherita, other child by initial for anonymity. 3. The account describes the action in detail. Sherita bends over with eyes close to D s zipper. 4. It describes the interaction between characters. bends down and says, 5. It records exact quotes including pronunciation as it is heard. tan dit it! I t 6. It concludes with result or reaction between e characters. Yo r my b ddy, right?

ADVANTAGES
No special forms, setting or time frame. Are preserved facts and details for any reader to draw conclusions. Give a short, contextual account of an incident. Give the reader a sense of being there. Gives an on going record to help teacher understand childs behavior in particular situations and settings.

 Separate judgments or inferences from details of incident. Are useful for recording all areas of development. Are necessary for capturing exact details for specific purposes, such as speech/language development and child abuse disclosure.

DISADVANTAGES
Choosing which incidents to record gives the writer selectivity that may influence positive or negative collections, ie: observer bias Intense writing to capture all details, quotes, body movements. Diverts attention from interactions with children. Can only focus on a few minutes of action. Can only focus on one or two children at a time. Since these records can follow child in cumulative records, can provide self-fulfilling prophecy.

 Avoid attention-getting behavior. Use a systematic approach by sorting your students into groupings and then assigning an observation week to each group. Use a variety of developmental areas to account for the whole child. Use your centers evaluation plan as a guide so you obtain the needed observation results to aid you in completing forms and conducting parent/ teacher conferences.

Pitfalls to Avoid

 Be certain to write factually. Avoid inferences, explanations, reasons, feelings and biases. The recorder constantly needs to test if the reader will see it in the mind. If it is not describing an event exactly as it occurred then the writer is summarizing and it ceases to be an accurate recording.

 The recorder must stretch vocabulary to describe actions in non-inferential, nonjudgmental terms.
Zipped Davis jacket, NOT helped Jumped and fell, NOT clumsy Gave a piece of PlayDough, NOT shared Eyes widened, mouth open, NOT looked surprised

 REVIEW OF ANECDOTAL Types of Information to RECORDINGS: Record: Self-Care Skills Detailed incident on one Separation and Adjustment child (others may interact Physical Development in the incident) Social Development Emotional Development Include the setting, Language and Speech action/reaction Attention Span and Interests Cognitive Development Use exact quotes, and Literacy Creativity results. Sociodramatic Play It should be detailed Self- Esteem Child Abuse Disclosure enough for the reader to be there.

Name_____________________________________________________ Childs Name___________________________Date_________________ Center Name__________________________ Time_________________ Location___________________________________________________ Anecdote:

Anecdotal Record Form

Significance:

Curriculum / Social Plans:

Anecdotal Log Sheet

DATE NAME ANECDOTE KEY __________________________________________________ __________________________________________________ __________________________________________________ __________________________________________________ __________________________________________________ __________________________________________________ __________________________________________________ __________________________________________________ __________________________________________________ __________________________________________________ KEY:
C = COGNITIVE M = MATH L = LANGUAGE /LITERACY E = EMOTIONAL/SOCIAL P = PHYSICAL S = SYMBOLIC