Description:  The focus of this assignment is to observe a teacher-child interaction. 

Directions:

• Record at least 3-5 observations of teacher-child/children interactions. Be professional and respect confidentiality.  DO NOT observe during a teacher directed activity. The observer sits or stands apart from the interaction, writing down all behaviors and dialogue that occur during that interaction.
• After you have recorded an objective record of events, analyze the teacher-child/children interaction by comparing it with the developmentally appropriate criteria from your DAP textbook. If you observed an infant (birth – 18 months) use pages 76-79. If you observed a toddler (18-36 months) use pages 90-95. In a two-page summary, compare the observed behavior with the developmentally appropriate criteria.
• In a one to two-page summary, compare the observed behavior with each of the paragraphs of developmentally appropriate practices. (State the criteria).
• Describe the benefits and uses of this type of authentic assessment. (S3a)
• Describe ways to form partnerships with families and professional colleagues to support assessment. (S3d)
• Include a statement about how you could create a caring community of learners in your classroom. (S3d)