Glenbrook ECE 102 Observation Assignment Template 

Observer Information 
Name Ben Hayes 

School → GBN ​GBS​ ​(underline one)   Date: 10/30/2019 

Observation Assignment Focus Age (check box):  

❏ 0 MO (Infant) to 2 years 
❏ 3 years to 5 years 
❏ 6 years to 8 year 
 
Part 1: Observation Pre-Reflection  
To provide you context prior to your visit, answer each question with at least 2 or more 
sentences and reflect on the following:  
Facility:   Is the facility profit, non-profit, or school-based? Is the facility a 
national or regional center chain? Is it affiliated with a religious 
institution or other umbrella institution such as a hospital, 
business or school campus? How might this influence their 
practice or culture? 
 
Saint Cahtherines is a private Catholic school teaching 
grades Pre-k through 8th. The school itself is connected to a 
church and teaches religion (Christianity) as a class. 
 
 

Community:   What do you know about the community in which the center is 
located?  
● Consider demographics, population, socioeconomics  
The school itself is centered within a somewhat well of 
neighborhood. The community is mostly white, with the 
community being about 15% non-caucasian.  
 
 
 

Center or Program  What basics (mission, vision, educational philosophy, teacher 

Information:   credentials, age-grouping, commitment to diversity, curriculum, 
other?) about the facility can you learn from their promotional 
materials?   
 
Their Mission statement is as follows  
“S​ t. Catherine Labouré School teaches the values of Jesus and the
Catholic Church in an atmosphere of love in a family-like
atmosphere.

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Teachers impart fundamental academic skills, the joy of learning, a

positive sense of self-awareness, and a community spirit, while
recognizing each student’s individuality and importance.

St. Catherine Labouré School is proud of its past. With the support
of parents and the parish community, and with guidance from the
Holy Spirit, we anticipate the future with faith and determination.”

Their Philosophy on their website:  

“St. Catherine Labouré School is a Catholic Community 
dedicated to learning, prayer, liturgy and service. We are 
committed to the development of each student as a person with 
unique abilities and needs. 

  

Recognizing the parent as the primary teacher, St. Catherine 

Labouré School fosters a strong home-school partnership in 
order to provide quality education for each student. 

  

Our Catholic School environment promotes intellectual, 

spiritual, emotional, physical, and social growth while nurturing 
the self-esteem and self-confidence so vital to learning. Each 
student is encouraged to realize his or her full potential through 
inquiry, creativity, and action. 

  

Through integration of academic competency and spiritual 

values, the student is challenged to be a concerned and active 
individual in church and society, present and future.” 

 
 
   

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Part 2: Description of Setting 

When you arrive in the preschool room for your observation, give the teacher a copy of 
the assignment sheet and introductory ​letter​. Prepare to take thorough notes on the 
following. A description of the setting, including:  
 
Facility name and the  Saint Catherine's Laboure school (Gymnasium) 
classroom you are 
observing in  

Number of children  Boys: 14 

present   Girls: 7 
 
Total: 21 

Number of staff present   2 

 

Activities occurring  Indoor Recess 

during observation time 
period  

Other relevant  Where family members or other visitors were in the room? How 
information   children responded to strangers, etc.?  
 
No other visitors were there besides the observers and staff. 
Many of the children were initially shy around observers.  
 
 
   

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Part 3: Anecdotal Record Notes 

Choose one child to focus on during the observation between (check box):  
❏ 0 MO (Infant) to 2 years 
❏ 3 years to 5 years 
❏ 6 years to 8 year 
NOTES: Take ​accurate, concise, and objective​ notes about that child’s appearance, 
interactions and behaviors. Record notes in the chart provided below. ​Be sure to have 
Observation Verification ​Form​ Completed, if necessary. 
 
CHILD’S NAME:  CHILD’S AGE:  DATE:  

PHYSICAL  COGNITIVE  PSYCHOSOCIAL 

- Hannah kicks a ball  - Hannah stops after a teacher  - Hannah walks with 
- Hannah spins around on her  calls the end of recess  another student towards 
knees  - Hannah listens to directions to  teacher 
- Hannah throws a ball towards a  put away equipment  - Hannah shies away from 
hoop  - Hannah drops a basketball in a  observers  
- Hannah runs around  basket  - Hannah walks around 
- Hannah rolls a ball around the  - Hannah lines up with other  the gym with another 
ground  students  students 
- Hannah sits down on the 
floor to play a game with 
another student 

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Part 4: Post Reflection Written Report 

Label your sections as 4A, 4B, 4C to help in your writing organization. Be sure to include the 
supportive components to this part of your report. This section of your paper should be 2-4 pages 
in length. Please use appropriate APA citations as you reference different course and curriculum 
resources. This paper should include:  
1:​ An overview of what you observed in each developmental domain (physical, cognitive, psychosocial).  
A. In your commentary, be sure to integrate a ​theorist’s perspective (Erikson, Piaget, or Vygotsky) 
into your discussion of domains of development.  
B. Include ​three to five specific examples​ of how your observational data complemented or deviated 
from developmental milestones. (NAEYC 1a). 
2: ​A description of three to five contextual factors (such as ethnicity, language, ability, socio-economics, 
religion, and society) influence healthy development and learning).   
A. Based on the child you assessed, specifically, what impact might cultural, familial, biological, and 
environmental influences have on his or her physical and mental health, well-being, and nutrition?  
B. Address how stress, trauma, protective factors, and resilience, impact children’s well-being, and 
learning. (NAEYC 1b). 
3: ​Based on what you have learned about this child and your knowledge of child development, explain how 
you would create a healthy, respectful, supportive, and challenging learning environment for her/him 
(NAEYC 1c).  
 
Part 4:  
1.    
a. According to Erik Erikson’s theory of the stages of psychological development, a 5 year old 

child would be in the Initiative Vs Guilt stage of development. In order to successfully pass 

this stage a child must improve their interpersonal skills through play, eventually gaining a 

sense of initiative. Hannah was very receptive to play and others, interacting with the other 

children for almost the entire duration of recess. In this respect Hannah seems to be 

succeeding in this stage.  

b. For my preschool observation I observed Hannah, a 5 year old student at St. Catherine's 

private school. The observation was done during indoor recess in the gymnasium. It is in my 

opinion that Hannah is meeting the milestones for her age group well and is developing 

smoothly. First off, Hannahs emotional and social development seems to be progressing 

well from what was observed. At age 5 Hannah should be able to participate in and 

understand the rules of games, as well as enjoy playing and interacting with others. During 

the observation Hannah was able to sit down with another student and play a simple game 

involving passing a ball between each other. This indicates that Hannah is able to interact 

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and play with others, as well as follow the rules of a game. In terms of cognitive 

development, Hannah should be able to two-to-three part commands. At the end of recess 

hannah was able to put away her ball and line up at the teachers command. Lastly, in terms 

of physical development, Hannah is where a five year old child should be. Hannah was able 

to easily run and walk on her own, as well as attempt other athletic tasks such as throwing a 

ball and spinning around on her knees.  

2.   

a. There are a myriad of factors at play that can affect Hannah’s growth and development. 

For one, Hannah is Asain(more specifically Korean) and her parents speak Korean at home. 

This can present a challenge for Hannah, as speaking one language at home and learning in 

a different one at school can be difficult. There is also her family's economic status. Judging 

by the area around Saint Catherines and the fact that the school is private it is likely that 

Hannah’s family is around the middle class. This means she likely won’t need to concern 

herself with physiological needs, and can instead work on more emotional development 

while at school. This also will affect the quality of education she will receive in the future. 

Lastly there is the fact that Saint Catherines is a catholic school. While the effects of this 

can differ based on whether or not her experiences are positive, it is possible for religion to 

instill a good moral compass in her.  

b. According to developmental theorist Abraham Maslow human needs are in a hierarchy.  

The theory states that a person's physical needs(food, shelter, etc) must be satisfied before 

working on psychological needs like friendship and self-esteem. In my opinion, Hannah is 

somewhere between the 3rd and 4th level of maslow's theory(Love/Belonging and 

self-esteem). In this stage, Hannah would be trying to connect and create relationships with 

others, as well as creating a sense of self-worth. During the observation Hannah was seen 

interacting multiple times with other children cooperatively, indicating she is building 

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relationships with those around her. As well, it can be assumed that her physiological and 

safety needs are being taken care of judging by her school and economic prosperity of the 

surrounding community. 

3.   

a. To create a healthy developmental environment for Hannah I would create one very similar 

to the one she is currently in. First of safety would be a first priority, so as to encourage 

emotional development and learning. It may also help to have some sort of Korean 

language program, so as to help with difficulties using both Korean and English. Lastly, it 

would be important to incorporate a social environment, so as to help them learn to 

cooperate with others and forge relationships.  

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