From Observation to Action: Using Documentation and Assessment to Guide Curriculum Planning by Cynthia Terebush, MS, BCISE, CYPFC

Every day, early childhood educators observe children as they play, explore, and interact with the world around them. But how can we turn those everyday observations into meaningful documentation that informs our teaching and curriculum planning?

Join Cynthia Terebush, MS, BCISE, CYPFC, to explore how purposeful observation and assessment can help educators better understand children's individual developmental needs, plan meaningful group experiences, and make intentional teaching decisions.

In this practical session, we'll examine the characteristics of objective, useful observation notes and how to evaluate documentation against developmental standards. We'll also explore how to use backward design to plan learning experiences that align with developmental goals while responding to children's interests, abilities, and needs. Through a practical classroom scenario, Cynthia will demonstrate how educators can apply backward design to connect developmental standards, observations, and intentional curriculum planning.

Walk away with practical strategies for connecting what you observe to what you plan, creating more intentional, developmentally appropriate learning experiences for every child.

Explore the complementary topic: Want to better understand the different roles of developmental screening and assessment? Join Cynthia's webinar, Developmental Screening vs. Assessment: Why Do Both?, to explore how these practices support a more complete understanding of children's development and learning.

Learning Outcomes

By the end of this session, participants will be able to:

1. Explain how documenting observations of children supports intentional planning of learning activities and teacher-child interactions.

2. Apply the principles of backward design to select standards-based learning activities that support identified developmental goals.

3. Evaluate observation documentation to determine whether it is objective and aligned with developmental standards.

Disclosure of Proprietary Interest

Cynthia Terebush holds a financial interest in the book Teach the Whole Preschooler: Strategies for Nurturing Developing Minds and the podcast How Preschool Teachers Do It, which may be referenced during this session.