Kidwatching

 

What:

Kidwatching is when a teacher or professional observes a student in every day circumstances: walking through the hallway, playing at recess, eating lunch, working in class, etc. These observations are used to identify strengths and weaknesses in social or emotional areas that may play a role in the student's reading difficulties.

 

Who:

Any student can be observed and the results of such oservations analyzed.

 

Why:

The purpose of this assessment is to gather data regarding the student's interaction with others, attenion span, listening skills, etc.

 

When:

This observation can be done at any time while working with a student; however, it would be most effective and objective before the child has been introduced to the professionl observing. When the child is acting and behaving as they normally would, the most sincere observations will be made.

 

How:

1. Schedule times to observe the student in normal activities throughout the school day.

2. Record everything that is occuring. Most importantly: record the teacher's expectations and what is actually occuring. Observations recorded should be what the student should be doing, and what the student is actually doing.

 

By comparing these two columns, conclusions can be made of how behavioral/social strengths and weaknesses may come into play when identifying reading difficulties.