Department of Health & Human Services
Head Start - Extra Ideas for Site Leaders
- Randomly monitor the format of anecdotes using the checklist.
- Regularly monitor the pace at which anecdotes are being written
to ensure that one anecdotal note will be written for each enrolled
child on all 30 COR items.
Use a reporting system than works for you that may include:
- Having teachers submit their anecdotal note tally sheets
for the entire class [this allows you to monitor anecdote
numbers only]
- Having teachers submit their class data by item sheets
for the entire class [this allows you to monitor that an
anecdote is in place for an item and what the score is]
- Having teachers submit their anecdotes for children
that you randomly select [this allows you to monitor the
format of the anecdote, the appropriate score assigned
to the anecdote, and the proper amount of anecdotes that
should be written within the time frame for particular
children]
- Observe teachers in the classroom as they interact, observe,
and write notes for children to gain a sense of how the process
is flowing. Are teachers solely writing notes during work time
and is this preventing them form interacting and supporting children?
Are you observing that teachers are feeling comfortable writing
brief notes as they interact with children?
- Sit in on a lesson planning meeting with a teaching team to
observe if and how the anecdotal notes are being used to plan
support strategies/activities for the children.
- Interview teachers about what their outcome measure process
is from the beginning of observations to the use of the data.
This system should ultimately include:
- A plan or form of tracking to ensure that all children
will have anecdotes and scores across all 30 COR items;
using anecdotes for lesson planning;
- Communication and understanding of roles and responsibilities
between the lead and assistant teacher- are they working
together as a team?;
- The sharing of observations/anecdotal notes with parents;
- Asking parents for their input and observations of their
child to incorporate in the lesson planning process?;
- Examining the outcome measure data during the end of
each time period to assess how the class is progressing
as whole;
- Analyzing the areas that need extra support and planning
strategies to better enhance the learning experiences for
children.
- Assigning teachers who demonstrate strong skills in the outcome
measure process as mentors to those teachers who do not feel
as comfortable and need extra support [support groups].
- Other
Department Organizations...
Cecelia Mobley
Head Start Director
KAY BEARD BUILDING
30712 Michigan Avenue
Westland, MI 48186
1-866-534-KIDS(5437)