Jottings For Observations

[kells]

I'm really having trouble understanding what exactly jottings are. Are they just a shorter form of an anecdote? Can you use jottings to record something that has been happening over a period of time?

My focus child kept going back to one book in particular this week and I'd like to record this repeated interest as one observation. Can I do that as a jotting?

[Lorina]

A jotting is usually short details of significant events, behaviours or conversations. It can be a couple of sentences to no longer than a paragraph at most. Jottings are a quick and easy way to record significant events and behaviours.

For example:

12.7.09: Rebecca (11 months) lies in her cot after waking up. P bends over her but she does not smile. H, her regular caregiver, comes over and Rebecca immediately starts to smile.

13.7.09: Rebecca is sitting on the mat playing with nesting cups. Toni (12 m) crawls to the rug and tries to take a cup from Rebecca’s hand. She squeals, holds on tight to the cup, looking around the room at the adults.

16.7.09: Rebecca enters the nursery with her mother. She hides her head in her mother’s shoulder and holds tightly to her shoulder. H comes over to her mother smiling. The two women talk in a friendly manner for two or three minutes. H then says 'time for Mummy to go', holds out her arms for Rebecca, who leans over and reaches out for H, smiling in return.

Interpretation

Rebecca is experiencing separation anxiety and stranger anxiety which is typical for infants at this age. It shows her growing awareness of others and her ability to discriminate between familiar and unfamiliar people. She is also showing her attachment to her mother and her primary caregiver—H in these jottings.

Ref: sielearning.tafensw.edu.au

Hope this helps,

,
Lorina

[Lorina]

Sorry, to answer your question, yes you could use a jotting observation to record the child's interest...

,
Lorina

[kells]

Thanks Lorina, that was an incredibly helpful answer and I feel a lot more confident with using jottings now

[Lorina]

You're most welcome! Happy to have been able to help you understand!

,
Lorina

[geoff]

hi im not sure what a work sample is could you please give me some info on outdoor water play thanks

[Lorina]

A work sample is a piece of a child's work... so it could be an art, writing example, cutting example etc.

,
Lorina

[geoff]

i done mine on outdoor trough water food colouring to colour water silver paint glass beads is that ok

[Lorina]

i done mine on outdoor trough water food colouring to colour water silver paint glass beads is that ok

Seems OK...

,
Lorina