Deck 4: The Power of Observation: Learning About Infants and Toddlers

Question 1

The purpose of observation is not to:

A) learn how children are more alike than different
B) help teachers plan a responsive curriculum
C) learn about an individual child's interests
D) build relationships with families

Answer 1

learn how children are more alike than different

Question 2

According to your text, what is the most important reason to observe young children?

A) To record the skills and feelings of children
B) To build relationships with children and families
C) To become awed by children's capabilities
D) To complete developmental checklists

Answer 2

To build relationships with children and families

Question 3

Theories:

A) recommend a focus on a child's culture
B) inspire adults to observe different aspects of development
C) encourage a focus on cognitive and motor development
D) encourage a focus on language and social development

Answer 3

inspire adults to observe different aspects of development

Question 4

Erik Erikson's theory reminds us to observe how:

A) children think
B) culture influences children
C) children demonstrate trust versus mistrust
D) teachers scaffold language development

Question 5

Lev Vygotsky's theory reminds us to focus on:

A) how culture influences children's development
B) how children's behavior influences adults' behavior
C) social and emotional development
D) who children imitate

Question 6

The over-riding ethical principle of observing is to:

A) include families
B) build rapport with children
C) stay hidden during observations
D) not harm children

Question 7

Albert, a teacher of a multi-age infant/toddler home-room in a center always asked the families about their children's development as well as use the High/Scope COR to observe development. What primary NAEYC Code of Ethics principle was he following?

A) Rely on testing to inform their practice.
B) Recognize the importance of developmental profiles.
C) Use at least 10 sources of information to learn about children.
D) Use at least two methods of observation to collect information.

Question 8

What do teachers and families observe?

A) Depends on how many teachers there are in a room or family child care setting.
B) Depends on the questions that they ask.
C) Depends on the skills of the teacher.
D) Depends on how the environment is arranged.

Question 9

Anecdotal records and running records are designed to primarily:

A) collect information on only particular events (such as making eye-contact)
B) describe how children learn and play
C) describe what happened in an objective, factual way
D) collect information on how many times a behavior occurs

Question 10

Event sampling:

A) focuses on a specific behavior as well as what happened before and after
B) focuses on building relationships
C) captures the sequence of everything a child does in a certain time period
D) focuses on the number of times a behavior occurs

Question 11

Time sampling could be best used to:

A) observe the richness of children's language development
B) capture the sequence of how children share
C) observe where children are playing at particular times of the day
D) assess a child's knowledge of colors

Question 12

What does documentation primarily involve?

A) It involves capturing how many of a certain behavior occurred.
B) It is used to determine if children are at risk of disabilities.
C) It involves the family taking and sharing photos.
D) It includes observing children's experiences through a variety of media.

Question 13

What information do developmental profiles primarily provide?

A) They provide information on how play areas are set up in a program.
B) They provide view of children that not very many people see.
C) They provide information to set up a portfolio for each child.
D) They provide sequences of a child's development.

Question 14

Why are screening tools used?

A) They screen children out of programs until they are ready to succeed.
B) They results determine whether a child needs a comprehensive evaluation.
C) Teachers use the results to plan the curriculum to be responsive to children's interests.
D) The results help teachers decide which children to include in the program.

Question 15

The OUNCE Scale is an example of:

A) a developmental profile
B) a portfolio method and documentation
C) a running record and event sampling
D) how an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of intervention

Question 16

If a teacher wanted to know how the interests of the children in her room, she would most likely use which method of observation?

A) An event sampling
B) A developmental checklist
C) A screening tool
D) Anecdotal or running records

Question 17

What do observers bring to the observation?

A) They should bring nothing to an observation to avoid bias.
B) They bring their photos and other media examples of children's behavior.
C) They bring their past experiences working with adults.
D) They bring their past experiences, beliefs and values.

Question 18

What two things does your text recommend that teachers reflect on to prevent bias?

A) Developmental profiles and documentation
B) Their own interests and needs
C) Their own cultural beliefs and the effect of their presence
D) The children's interests and goals

Question 19

Milo, a toddler teacher talked about a child's development to a parent of another child. Which ethical consideration was Milo violating?

A) Protecting the confidentiality of children and families
B) Writing and talking about children in respectful ways
C) Using appropriate assessment sources
D) Respecting the rights of parents to see records

Question 20

What is the most critical part of assessment?

A) The use of screening tools to determine if a child has a disability
B) The use of developmental profiles to determine how a child is developing
C) The use of extensive observation to support the items on assessments
D) The use of assessment information to plan a curriculum

Question 21

What two methods could you use to observe a toddler who has been biting his peers? Describe how you would use the methods.

Question 22

What are the four major purposes of observing?