Timothy O’Keefe’s
article on “The Habit of Kidwatching” helped to remind myself of college days
when we were encouraged to take a lot of notes while observing/interacting with
students. This note taking time needed
to be time that was intentional and systematic to provide me with the most
accurate and most useful data. By
watching our students we can get to know so much more about them than just how they
score on a test or answer a comprehension question. When we give our children our best time and
effort, we can get to know who they truly are as readers. We also can get to know how to help them pick
out the best books for them to read during their independent reading time.
Kidwatching is a true commitment that we must make and not just make it one of those “great ideas that never get put into place.” The time and effort we spend on Kidwatching will pay off in the future. One fact that I found extremely important and worth reminding myself daily of is that we must focus on our quality of Kidwatching rather than the quantity. The information we gather should be used in conversation with our students and with our parents. When we engage our students we help them to feel more confident in their learning and it also helps them to take a greater amount of ownership. What I like the most about Kidwatching is that we are not being told how to collect our data or where we are to keep it, but rather we are given a resource to use and some freedom to fit Kidwatching into our curriculum. Keeping a notebook with a blank sheet of computer paper in it for each child is a way to always have space to collect your data. I look forward to implementing this idea into my reading class and seeing how well I can get to know my students and how to help them to improve in their reading.
Kidwatching is a true commitment that we must make and not just make it one of those “great ideas that never get put into place.” The time and effort we spend on Kidwatching will pay off in the future. One fact that I found extremely important and worth reminding myself daily of is that we must focus on our quality of Kidwatching rather than the quantity. The information we gather should be used in conversation with our students and with our parents. When we engage our students we help them to feel more confident in their learning and it also helps them to take a greater amount of ownership. What I like the most about Kidwatching is that we are not being told how to collect our data or where we are to keep it, but rather we are given a resource to use and some freedom to fit Kidwatching into our curriculum. Keeping a notebook with a blank sheet of computer paper in it for each child is a way to always have space to collect your data. I look forward to implementing this idea into my reading class and seeing how well I can get to know my students and how to help them to improve in their reading.
Kidwatching is a true commitment that we must make and not just make it one of those “great ideas that never get put into place.” I love this! I am so glad you are taking a great idea and putting it into place! Please let me know what your information tells you about your reading class.
ReplyDeleteHi Laura,
ReplyDeleteI loved the same things you did about kidwatching. Knowing that it isn't the quantity of notes we take on each student, but the quality allows us to really focus in on what we notice about students and the components that can guide our feedback to students and our communication to parents and most of all inform our instruction. I am glad that you are going to try out kidwatching with your students. I love using a three ring binder with a piece of paper for each students' name at the top that allows me to jot down notes for each student throughout the year. This year I am considering using a padlet page to do keep up with my small group notes digitally. Thanks, Dawn