Anecdotal records

1. Anecdotal records

2. What is an anecdote? • The term “anecdote” means a short narrative or story • It is told or recorded in “past” tense • Form of recording observations of children

3. When will you observe? • Children engaged in an activity or interaction with others • The observation starts when the child begins to engage in an activity or an interaction and finishes when the child stops participating • Record your observation as soon as possible after the event to ensure that you remember significant information eg. Direct quotes, hand preference.

4. What will you record? • Record what you see or hear - objectively Body language, facial expressions, tone of voice and direct quotes (if you can) • Focus on information that is significant • Record in sequence – no gaps • The reader of the record should be able to understand the sequence of events

5. How will you record? • Use the format provided on the CD • Record child’s first name and age in years and months eg. (2.3) • Record observers name and date of observation • Offer a purpose for the observation eg. To identify gross motor skills • Describe the setting eg. Sandpit with a carer during outside play

6. What do we use anecdotal records for? • Useful for recording significant events that tell us something about the child’s development, interests, strengths, emerging skills and needs. • Anecdotal observations may focus on one area of development or skill or several areas at once.

7. Advantages • Reasonably easy to do • Do not stop you from interacting with the child – can be recorded later • Observer can be either participator or non-participator • Useful for planning and learning • You can focus on one area of development or skill at a time

8. Disadvantages • The observer’s involvement may influence the child’s behaviour • Relies on the memory of the observer • Some detail may be forgotten eg. Direct quotes