In the Sixth Edition of their classic text, the authors reiterate the critical importance of observing and recording the behavior of young children, especially in the current atmosphere of accountability and testing. In addition, because children with special needs are now widely included in a majority of early childhood classrooms, they have completely rewritten a chapter to focus more broadly on observing behaviors that may be viewed as disquieting. Designed to help teachers better understand children’s behavior, the book outlines methods for recordkeeping that provide a realistic picture of each child’s interactions and experiences in the classroom. Numerous examples of teachers’ observations of children from birth to age 8 enrich this work and make it accessible, practical, and enjoyable to read. With more than 130,000 copies in print, this valuable resource for pre- and inservice educators features: Fresh information about how children think and learn, how their language develops, and how their families, their culture, and their environment influence and help to shape them. Observations that reflect the increasingly diverse population in contemporary early childhood classrooms. The imperative for teachers to widen their lens in order to meet the needs of young children with a range of developmental capacities, abilities, and behaviors.

This classic text has been helping teachers better understand young children’s behavior for over 6 decades. Now available in an updated seventh edition, this popular resource is designed to deepen pre- and inservice teachers’ understanding of children (birth-age 8) as unique individuals within a developmental context. Observation notes recorded over time reveal patterns in children’s behavior, as well as ways in which behaviors may change. To strengthen teachers’ efforts to better understand children as individuals, the authors provide a timeless methodology for documenting young children’s behavior as they actively engage in classroom life. They outline methods for record keeping that capture children’s interactions and experiences in the classroom. Numerous examples of teachers’ observations of children enrich this work and make it accessible, practical, and enjoyable to read. Book Features: Provides early childhood educators with a guide for observing and recording as a way of better understanding children, while holding judgment in abeyance. Examines the need for teachers to reflect on their own experiences, even as children, and how these may influence their reactions to children’s interactions and behaviors. Focuses on the centrality of family, community, and culture in children’s lives, reflecting the diversity in contemporary early childhood classrooms. Explains the imperative for teachers to observe and record the behavior of young children as a means of interpreting their developmental capacities and abilities.