Anecdotal notes are detailed narrative accounts that describe what a teacher observes a child doing. They should be clear, concise, and factual. Taking anecdotal notes allows teachers to assess child development, influence teaching practices, and build relationships with families. Notes can be organized and used to guide curriculum and instruction. Recording observations through anecdotal notes is an important part of being a professional early childhood educator and building trust with parents.

1. Kids Say the Darnedest Things
Anecdotal note taking in the real world.
Presenter: Beth Arthur
Senior Screening & Assessment Specialist
Early Learning Coalition of Brevard
barthur@elcbrevard.org
321-637-1800 x 2019

2. What we will cover today:
What are anecdotal notes?
Strategies for note taking
Why do anecdotal notes?
How to use anecdotal notes to:
•Assess children’s development
•Influence teaching
•Build relationships

3. What is an Anecdotal note?
“Anecdotal notes are detailed narrative accounts that describe
a particular event factually. “ The Power of Observation Jablon, Dombro and Dichtelmiller
What this really means:
Jotting down what you see and hear
children doing.
3 rules for notes:
CLEAR-
CONSICE-
FACTUAL-

4. CLEAR
Child’s name
Where
When
What happened

5. CONCISE
Avoid descriptive language
Avoid emotional language
Write what you actually see

6. FACTUAL
Write only what you see
or hear
Who
What
Where
When
Avoid Why

7. Examples:
At center time Megan laid a doll on top of a diaper and tried
to pull the diaper up between the dolls legs. When this didn’t work she
left the doll on the table and went to the sand table.
OR
Megan laid a doll on top of a diaper and tried
to pull the diaper up very roughly between
the dolls legs. When this didn’t work she got
mad and pouted. She gave up and left the
doll on the table. She abandoned the baby
and went to the sand table.
Which note gets the thumbs up?

8. Which note gets the thumbs up?
As the children gathered around for
large group time around a pile of wrapped
items, Nicole said “Uh-oh, there are more
children than presents.”
OR
Nicole came to large group time with
an attitude. She looked at the pile of
wrapped items. She gave Jeremiah a mean
look and said “Uh-oh, there are more
children than presents.”

9. Know what you are looking for

10. Curricula that utilize Anecdotal notes
or Observation to Guide Instruction
and Assessment
•Creative Curriculum
•High Scope
•Beyond Centers and Circle Time
•Montessori

11. Know what you are looking for
• Objectives for Development& Learning (ODL)
• Child Observation Record (COR)
•Creative Curriculum:
7 Domains: 28 items
plus
Social Studies &
The Arts (8 items)
•High Scope:
Infant Toddler
6 Categories: 28 items
Preschool
6 Categories: 32 items

12. Activity
Let’s try it!

13. Activity
Matching Notes to Domains

14. Making Notes Work for You
Working for Your Notes
Strategies

15. Get Organized – Make a Plan

16. Post-its: A love hate relationship
Pro:
Individual serving size
Stick-able
Compact for teacher pockets
Ready made
Con:
Small - Individual serving size
Stick-together-able
Compact for children’s pockets
Cost

17. Use what you have
Better to note on anything
You’ve got than miss
the chance!

18. Clipboards

19. The
Lowly Clothespin

20. Be Creative! Make it a part of your room.

21. …worth a thousand words

22. Video captures everything…
Children love to see
themselves on video
Parents love to see
their children on video
Teachers love to take
notes from video

24. Why take notes?
•Make your program responsive to children
•Conduct assessments and write reports
•Work together with families

25. What you learn about
children
by reading and
evaluating
anecdotal notes
can directly influence
how , what
and WHO you teach.

26. When Assessing Children’s Development
Technology is your friend

27. Both the Creative Curriculum
and High Scope have online
assessment tools
TS GOLD
COR Online

29. OnlineCOR makes teachers' and administrators' jobs easier by streamlining
record keeping, report writing, and tabulation. You will save time
Managing anecdotes — You will be able to enter, score, and track your anecdotes
online.
Reporting on individual children — Using information from the COR, Family
Reports and Growth Profiles are automatically created for each child.
Planning activities — COR scores are aligned with appropriate activities designed
to support and scaffold children at their current level of development.
Activities from our publication, What's Next, are available online.
Reporting on group progress — Reports include results in mandated requirements
such as COR Item T: Showing Awareness of Sounds in Words (which encompasses
alliteration and phonological awareness) and other critical components of child
development.

30. Assessment for
Creative Curriculum
Teaching Strategies
GOLD
Key for age ranges

32. Relationships with Families

33. What do
these
people
have
in
common?

34. They have gone to school for their profession
They participate in ongoing training to keep
their knowledge up to date
Their judgment is trusted
They are respected by parents

35. •Know your stuff in Early Childhood education
(continue education & training )
•Be able to provide parents accurate
information about their child and his/her development
•Share assessment information and anecdotal notes at parent
conferences.
•Gain the respect you desire by being a PROFESSIONAL Teacher

36. Contact me:
barthur@elcbrevard.org