Date completed: Fall 2016

Date submitted: Spring 2017

Title of Artifact: Observation #4- Child Study
Standard: Standard Nine- Professional Learning

I am placing my artifact, Observation #4, Child Study, under Standard Nine, Professional
Learning, as evidence of continued mastery towards engaging in learning designed to impact
practice in ways that lead to improved learning for each student. In the recommendation section
of this observation I had included that when doing a child study, the observer should carry
around post it notes and a pen so when something happens it can easily be written down so it
wont be forgotten. The child study in Observation #4 collaborates with Standard Nine,
Professional Learning, because it leads the students to improved learning.
I. Observation 4:
Pre Kindergarten class at South Branch Reformed Church
II. Grade:
Pre Kindergarten
III. Students:
1 girl
IV. Setting:
Pre Kindergarten classroom at South Branch Reformed Church
Multi-Age classroom (4 and 5 year olds)
V. Pre-Observation:
The purpose of this observation is to observe the four domains of a certain child. To
prepare for this observation I read the short article, Child Development Principals by
Better Brains for Babies. This article gives a brief description of each of the four domains
of a childs development. These domains include physical, social, emotional, and
cognitive. The physical domain is the development and growth of the childs body,
muscles, and senses. The social domain is how the child relates, talks, and plays with
others. The emotional domain is the childs awareness of self and how they feel about
themselves. Lastly, the cognitive domain is the way the children think, reason, solve
problems, understand, and use their language.
VI. Data:
For me this observation was a little difficult to complete. Although I do work in a
daycare, I am considered a floater so I am put in a classroom wherever I am needed. For
the past few weeks our infant room has been low on staff so that is where I have been
placed for the time being. I would have liked to be down in our south building that has a
Pre Kindergarten room there. Although I wasnt able to do this observation at work, I am
thankful that I have an almost 5 year old sister who is in Pre Kindergarten at her school
which is South Branch Reformed Church. I was able to collect some pieces to show the
four domains of her development. Even if I were able to do this observation at work it
wouldve been a hard time collecting evidence since I would have to get my directors
permission and the parents permission to use their childs work. For the physical aspect
of the childs development, I asked my sister, Ashlynn, to draw a picture of herself. After
she was done drawing it, I told her to point at each body part she drew and tell me what is
was so I could label it. I feel that what she drew for her age is about average. Although
she only drew 3 fingers when there are supposed to be 5, she understood that the fingers
come out of your hand, which is attached to your arm. I would also think that this would
apply to the emotional domain since she is applying what she knows about herself to the
picture she is drawing. On the next page is the picture Ashlynn drew of herself. Next, is a
word I never thought I would her come out of a soon to be 5 year olds mouth. I dont
really remember what the situation was and what I asked her to do but she came back to
me a few minutes later and said Im sorry Erica, I misunderstood what you said, what do
you need? I was in complete shock that she used the word misunderstood in the right
context and understood what it meant. She knew that she didnt understand what I wanted
and came back to me and said that. I felt that this was a key part in the cognitive domain
and even the social domain. She knew she needed to solve a problem and she spoke to me
like an adult would to find a solution. I can tell that she listens to the adults in the room
and uses their words and then uses them in her own sentences in the right context.
VII. Analysis:
Although I wasnt able to do this observation in an actual classroom setting, I was
fortunate enough to have a little sister at home to help when I get stuck in a different
room where I cant observe. I feel that the four domains all have a little bit to do with
each other and influence the other. I think that the physical and emotional could be
intertwined because when Ashlynn was drawing herself she was drawing her physical self
but thinking about her actual self and what she looks like. Although a 5 year olds drawing
of themselves most likely look nothing like what they look like, she took time to look at
herself and then draw the body parts. The other domains that I feel like can go together
are the social and cognitive domains.
VIII. Recommendations:
I feel that this was a great observation to participate in and there is nothing I would
change about it. The only thing I would recommend is just betting oneself on how to
observe a child. I had read the NAEYC article titled, Observation: The Key to
Understanding Your Child. This article just gives a little overview of what you should be
doing when observing a child. Writing something important down so you dont forget it is
the thing that I always have to do. If I need to, I will carry around post it notes and a pen
when I need to do an observation so I know who, what, where, when, and why.
IX. Post-Observation:
I love the daycare that I am working and doing these observations allows me to pay even
more attention to the children in their classroom. I am considered a floater, which means I
dont have a specific room that I am in all day. I am able to see what goes on in all the
classrooms and I get to know all of the children. Although I would like to have a set
classroom, knowing all of the children in the school is pretty awesome rather than just in
one class. All of the children know who I am so not only can I observe them, I can also
teach them something. They look up to me as one of their teachers and I will be there to
help them with whatever it is they need. I am so happy to have the opportunity to work in
such a great daycare that allows me to not only work there but also observe each
classroom in order to get my schoolwork done.
X. Citations:
Better Brains for Babies. (2016). Child Development Principals. Retrieved from
http://bbbgeorgia.org/childDevelopment.php
Green, J. (n.d.). Observation: The Key to Understanding Your Child. Retrieved from
https://families.naeyc.org/learning-and-development/child-
development/observation-key-understanding-your-child