
Recording Observables
Anecdotal Notes
Notes Screen
- Tap
and the program opens.
- Anecdotal notes and any of the checklists record the date when you
enter them, so it is important that the date and time on your handheld
are set correctly. To set them, tap the date and time from the opening screen. (see tab 2-Setting the Digitizer/Setting The Date &
Time/Notes)
- Tap
to begin.
- Tap a name to select a child to observe. (The name will become highlighted.)
- Tap
to enter notes.
- Record anecdotal notes anytime. Write anywhere in the blue box and
your own handwriting is recorded. You can also draw a picture to
illustrate your observations. Frequent note-taking is a critical step to becoming a talented and thoughtful kid-watcher.
- Select a category for each note, if applicable. The categories are:
Language, Literacy, Math, Social, and Writing. All other notes are
filed under "General" if you do not assign a category.
- Tap
to save this note.
- To clear your writing for this note, tap
.
- Tap
to cancel this note. If you have made any entries or
edits to this note, you will be prompted to confirm this choice.
- To fully delete a note,
tap then
.
Class List
- The Last column updates every time you record an entry for a child.
- To see entries you have previously entered, tap
.
Observables Log
- Shows entries from newest to oldest for a selected child.
- Use the menu to select which items you wish to see (Notes, Social, Book/Print, Writing).
- Tap on an underlined item name (Note, Writing, etc.) to review or edit that item.
- Tap
to return to the class list.
Social Assessment
Starting an Assessment
To begin a Social Assessment:
- Tap
.
Tap a child’s name.
- Tap
.
Instructions
- Review a child’s social behavior and development over the last three
weeks.
- You should consult any anecdotal notes you have recorded to determine the most appropriate rating.
- Tap
to advance.
Items
- Enter a rating from 1 (seldom) to 5 (often) for each behavior. You
may change an answer by tapping a different number for that item.
- You must enter a rating for all seven (7) items to complete a social
assessment. Use the scrolling arrows or 5 way Navigator button to
scroll through the items.
- To view the details of each, tap on the underlined text.
Item details
- The details describe specific activities and behaviors to rate for each
item in the assessment.
- Tap
to return to the Social Assessment.
Social Assessment
Incomplete Alert
- If you tap
before you have entered a rating for every item,
you will be prompted with an alert.
- Tap
to return to the assessment.
Results Screen
Here you can delete, edit, or save this checklist.
- Tap
. You will be prompted to confirm.
- Tap
to view all the checklist items. You can review and edit responses as needed.
- When you are satisfied with your checklist, tap
to save it.
Book and Print Awarenesss
This checklist was adapted from Marie Clay’s An Observation Survey of
Early Literacy Achievement. Complete this checklist with a child as you
read a children's book to that child.
Be sure the children's book has:
At least one page with multiple lines of print.
- No more than 3 lines of print on each page.
- Print on every page.
- Print that moves from left to right
Starting a Checklist
To begin a Book and Print Checklist:
- Tap
.
- Tap a child’s name.
- Tap
.
Book and Print Instructions
To begin a Book and Print Checklist:
- Use a children’s book for Questions 1-10.
- Tap
to advance.
This checklist is appropriate for four year olds and is intended for
teacher planning purposes only. You may wish to record this checklist
when you have the child with you for the early literacy assessments
(Letters, Vocabulary, and Phonological Awareness).
Items
- Tap
or
to record if the child responded correctly or not.
- You must record all items to complete the checklist. If the child does
not respond to a particular question, mark it as incorrect by
tapping
.
- There are 10 items in the checklist. Use the scrolling arrows or
hardware buttons to scroll through the items.
- To view the details of each, tap on the underlined text.
Item details
- By tapping the underlined text of each item, you are provided
appropriate responses as you analyze and assess a child’s response.
- Tap
to return to the Book and Print checklist.
Results Screen
Here you can delete, edit, or save this checklist.
- Tap
.You will be prompted to confirm.
- Tap
to view to the checklist items. You can review and
edit responses as needed.
- When you are satisfied with your checklist, tap
to save it.

Spanish
- The Book and Print Awareness checklist can be administered with
children who speak primarily Spanish. The other checklists are not
administered directly with a child and are entered only in English.
- Tap
from the English class list. The list switches to Spanish
(
).
- Tap
.

Instructions
- Instructions are shown in Spanish.
- Make sure you have a children’s book in Spanish and the Spanish version
of the CIRCLE Preschool Early Language and Literacy Training
manual with you.
- Tap
to advance.
Spanish Items
- The items are presented in Spanish, though the tasks are the same
regardless of language.
- The scoring and administration are the same as in English.
Results Screen
Here you can delete, edit, or save this checklist.
- Tap . You will be prompted to confirm.
- Tap to view to the checklist items. You can review and edit responses as needed.
- When you are satisfied with your checklist, tap to save it.
Early Writing Checklist
Starting a Checklist
To begin a Writing Checklist:
- Tap
.
- Tap a child’s name.
- Tap
.
Instructions
- Review a child’s development in writing over the last few weeks. You
may wish to consult any anecdotal notes you have recorded about the
child’s writing, journal entries the child has written and other
examples of a child’s writing.
- This checklist is intended to be used for teacher planning purposes
only.
Items
- Enter a rating from 1 (seldom) to 5 (often) for each item. You may
change an answer by tapping a different number for that item.
- You must enter a rating for all eleven (11) items to complete a writing
assessment. Use the scrolling arrows or hardware buttons to scroll
through the items.
Results Screen
Here you can delete, edit, or save this checklist.
- Tap
. You will be prompted to confirm.
- Tap
to view to the checklist items. You can review and
edit responses as needed.
- When you are satisfied with your checklist, tap
to save it.
return to top