I Know My Colors: When my supervisor had me do this many years ago as a student teacher, I was amazed to see how it worked just as she had said.  Test it for yourself: How many times have you wanted to see if a child knows his colors, so you place several colors in front of him.  You point to a color and say, "Can you tell me what color this is?"  The child says he doesn't know so you think he doesn't know his colors.  Well, you might be wrong.  Try asking this way, "Can you show me the color red (or blue, etc)?"  Many times, he will then point to the correct color because he knows what it is but just doesn't yet know the names very well.  You can do this with shapes too.

Free Choice Play Time is a great time to do observations and and work one on one with individual children.

From Susi in Phoenix, Arizona
I work for Head Start, and in my program, we're required to have 4 observations per child, per month.  It used to be hard for me to remember who I observed each week, so I devised this simple plan: I write the names of all the children along the left side of the paper, leaving about an inch between each name.  Across the top, I write "Observations for wk of _____."  I carry this form on a clip board everywhere I go.  When I see something I want to document, I just write it under the child's name.  At the end of the week, I put my notes on our observation form.  I like to rewrite them, but if you don't want to do that, you can simply cut the paper into strips, each child on a strip, and tape them onto the form.  This way, I usually have more than the four required, and it gives me a good picture of the child to share with the parents.
 
From one of my un-named website visitors speaking as a parent:
Perhaps a survey of parents at your center would be helpful in coming up with assessments and/or report cards.  Find out what behaviors, talents, skills, etc they would like to have updates on concerning their children.  If the assesment is honest and answers our questions, you've done your job!  We don't care if it's "cute" or "clever."  We just care that you love our kids!  Here's a sample of a daily report my child's teacher sends home each day:
1. What I ate today (lunch and snacks)
2. What I enjoyed doing today (a favorite activity, craft, etc)
3. What I need at school (change of clothes, wipes, project supplies, etc)
4. I napped today from ____ till ____.
5. I did/did not have an accident today.  Details noted.  (for younger children in potty training).
In addition to this, each child has a pocket/envelope hung outside the classroom where projects, newsletters, etc are placed to take home.

From Frances Miller in South Louisiana: Observations Technique (received from a parish workshop I attended):
Open up a file folder and mark off blocks the size of post-it notes.  (I did two folders -- one for the girls and one for the boys).  Stick post it notes on each square with a child's name on each.  After you observe a child, take away his post-it.  In this way, you will see who still has a post-it and needs to be observed.  When all have been observed for a particular skill, just add another round of post-its and begin again.  I also bought a rolling date stamper to save an extra few minutes each time I have to date something.

From Lotus Hoey, Pre-K/ESL teacher, in Katy, Texas:
Hi Stormie.  I have been successful using a clipboard to take anectodal notes.  I "program" the clip board with as many students as I have by taping in 3 x 5" index cards (turn the clipboard to its side) so that the cards are staggered flip-tab style -- the majority of the card is overlapped by the card above it.  In the exposed space, I've written the name of the student so I can flip to their card quickly and jot down the date/center/observations.  I like to wear funny hats, baseball caps, or headband "ears" on the days I do my observations so that the children know not to talk to me when I am observing or assessing students. The cards are used to supplement my parent-teacher conferences.  It really works!

Lynn Kandrac, Behavior Management Expert, New York, has sent us the following two assessment forms.  If you click on them now, don't worry, you won't get lost as they will both return you to this page: