Timothy
O’Keefe, 1997 did a phenomenal job in describing the proper way to “kidwatch”
in the article The Habit of Kidwatching.
This particular article caught my eye the moment I read the definition of what
kidwatching actually is. O’Keefe states that “kidwatching is the continuous,
systematic look at how children learn. It is taking what we know about students
and turning that knowledge into effective instructional invitations”. This
definition alone provoked me into wanting to read and learn more about
kidwatching.
A few suggestions that were provided for effective
teaching to occur were to allow students to have a voice, valuing each
individual’s contributions to the classroom, providing a way for the students
to realize what they are an expert in, and most importantly getting to know
each child from the moment they walk into your door. These simple suggestions
were a reminder of the importance of student choice and has encouraged me to
implement this more in my own classroom. I love that O’Keefe states that “kidwatching
is not something apart from the curriculum but rather what holds it together
and pushes it forward into new and often unexplored territory”. This is a
pretty powerful statement. For educators, kidwatching needs to become a habit in
order to find out more about our students and to be able to meet the needs of
all of our students.
This
article also provides the reader with many tips on how to properly kidwatch by
using rosters for the collection of data during reading and writing workshops.
Another thing that was beneficial was that he provides specific examples of
what coaching notes should include. For example, the teacher should note the
level of difficulty, and specific notes about the reading process. This helped
in clarifying what it is that we as educators should be looking for while kidwatching.
The
two most important things that I gained from reading this article is that
setting goals for our students are crucial and listening to our students read
is the best thing that we can do to get to know our students. In my own
classroom I have implemented kidwatching throughout the entire day but
specifically during independent reading time. I am honestly amazed at how many
things I have learned about my students through kidwatching that unfortunately
has been overlooked in the past. The
article states that kidwatching “requires commitment, risk taking, and valuing
the good in each child. However, kidwatching is its own reward.” I am ready for
that commitment, are you?
Getting to know your students is crucial. If you can relate what you are teaching to their interests, you will have them captivated and ready to learn.
ReplyDeleteI agree, Kaylee, this was a great article. It helped to understand that it is not about how many observations you make, but the quality of your observations that make the difference.
ReplyDeleteKaylee you are like a sponge soaking up all the good. I hope you get a chance to share some of your noticings and how they change or improve your teaching with the faculty or your grade level team!
ReplyDeleteHi Kaylee,
ReplyDeleteI loved reading your reflection because not only does it show what you read and understood about kidwatching from O'Keefe's example, but it also shows what you want to try out with your second graders. I appreciate how you are already implementing kidwatching and using what you are learning to guide your instruction. Thanks, Dawn