Observing Development of the Young Child - Softcover

Beaty, Janice J.

Softcover

ISBN 10: 0675211409 ISBN 13: 9780675211406

Publisher: Merrill, 1990

Synopsis

“How can we tell where children stand in their physical, cognitive, socioemotional, language, and creative development?  Do we test them?  Measure them? Compare them?”

 

This textbook teaches students how to become observers and how to document their findings using one tool:  The Child Development Checklist.  The author posits that the best method to determine a child’s strengths is for the teacher to observe the young child in the regular classroom based on a particular set of criteria.  The reasons for assessing children in this manner are: 

• It allows students of child development to gain an in-depth understanding of real children and their sequences of growth.
• It helps teachers of young children to become aware of each child’s growth and to support individual development with appropriate activities and materials.   

Once the child’s strengths have been assessed, the book then provides suitable lesson plans and activities to support the child’s development. 

 

New To This Edition:

 

NEW!  Presents new information on how to become an observer--How to get started, when and how long to observe, what to look for in children, and how to record.

• This is critical for new students and teachers.  (See Chapter 1 Ex. p. 9, 11, 12) 

NEW!  Suggests alternative approaches to child assessment–These include visual documentation, i.e. art, photos, videos, and using documentation panels.

• This is Important for evaluating both children and program.  (See Chapter 1 Ex. pp 23-26).  

NEW!  Offers new information on self-esteem in young children–Explains how and why a child should develop a secure attachment relationship with a teacher.

• Sets the stage for child’s success. (See Chapter 3 Ex. pp 81-82).  

NEW!  Includes new research on the brain showing the importance of physical exercise for children–The research shows that exercises increases brain synapses that improve permanent memory development.

• Even clapping helps.  (See Chapter 6, Ex.p.267)

About this title

Review:

Jan Jewett, Washington State University-Vancover

"This text benefits from focused coverage on explaining specific, key areas of development knowledgeably and engagingly.  Further, it provides many valuable, developmentally appropriate and well researched strategies for supporting healthy progress in practical, manageable terms.

 

I would consider adopting this text as a second reference for my advanced seminar--because it so clearly allows the reader to work through the basic foundations and principles of E.C.E. through the lens of observational assessment and to apply this knowledge in specific ways that benefit the growth of each individual child.  I found it engaging, highly readable, and very practical and useful."

 

Louise Vlasic, Everett Community College

"The writing style is user friendly for the community college population for whom I teach.  Students generally like this text and retain it for future reference."

 

Carol Dixon Sammis, Tompkins Cortland Community College

"I see the key strength of this project to be the use of the Child Skills Checklist as the collection tool of data."

From the Back Cover:

Observing Development of the Young Child, Seventh Edition

Janice J. Beaty, Professor Emerita, Elmira College 

 

Focuses on child development using a unique checklist to document each aspect of development.

 

This book teaches readers how to observe, record, and interpret development of children ages 3 through 5.  It also discusses what these children are like and how to support them in their development with exciting hands on activities. 

 

The text focuses on the six major aspects of child development: 

• Emotional
• Social
• Physical
• Cognitive
• Language
• Creative 

Teachers can use the author’s unique system of observation, The Child Development Checklist, to determine children’s levels of development.  This simple, self-teaching device is also used as an outline for chapters and their content. 

 

Strategies to support development

 

If You Have Not Checked This Item: Some Helpful Ideas-This expanded feature in each chapter gives students specific suggestions for activities that will help children developmentally in areas not checked on the checklist.

 

Includes coverage of all stages of development–Includes background research and practical activities to enhance development of each stage throughout the text.

 

Provides a separate chapter on sharing observational data with parents (Chapter 14)--Provides a unique approach to involving parents in their children's development through child observations at home and developing collaborative portfolios with teachers and children in the classroom.

About this edition

• Publisher: Merrill
• Publication date: 1990
• ISBN 10: 0675211409
• ISBN 13: 9780675211406
• Binding: Paperback
• Edition number: 2