Yes:

43

No:

3

Don't Know:

13

Comments:

My son's diagnosis was caught right off. I also think that they should do more observations before the child enters the kindergarten. Things could be caught and the school ready to accommodate from the beginning of school rather than having everyone struggle with the child missing school and work.

I go back and forth with this. On one hand classroom observations can be very meaningful...especially for a child with ADD/ADHD whose observation would reflect his/her attention difficulties. On the other hand classroom observations are unremarkable (in most cases) for children with LD/SLD and who are accommodated within the classroom. Under this circumstance the observation is put aside as not directly contributing to a child's evaluation other to say it was completed.

I think if it's a behavior problem such as ruling out ADHD, etc. it is important. I'm not sure how much you can get out of an observation on a child with a learning disability by observing for a 30 min. period. Samples of work as compared to others at the grade level would be more beneficial as well as interviewing the teacher.

Not sure about this. Depends on whether the observation is meant to include kids or exclude kids from special education. A child may have developed compensatory ways of maneuvering a classroom. If it's only additional information, then I'm in favor, as I believe the more information, the better.

How a student "tests" is often different due to many factors such as fewer distractions in the testing environment and 1:1 attention from the examiner.

Absolutely... not just classroom, but other environments where a child spends a significant part of his/her day (child care for instance) And not only one classroom, across the curriculum of "specials" and timeframe of the day - elements that vary and can have impact on a child's learning.

Absolutely, not just in the classroom but to observe the child in all aspects of the school day, i.e., lunch time, locker time, changing classes, etc.

As long as the parent is made aware and can be present at the same time.

The more "real" info we have on a child the better.

Classroom observations are too subjective and not generalizable to behavior over time.

Great idea!

Classrooms are the workplace of students. Students which cannot access learning in that setting without support are in dire straits. Any complete evaluation must include classroom observations.

All classroom teachers should be providing input, academic as well as non-academic.

It is an optional component already, the evaluation team will know best what kids will benefit from a classroom observation

I think that more than ONE classroom evaluation is needed, but definitely at least ONE. It actually makes more sense to me to purchase Baby Cams. Position cameras in the room for a week or two and then share the information. It's important to have the information to help the child. When my son didn't understand what was going on in the classroom he would start wondering around or sit under his desk. If you don't observe that in ONE CLASSROOM EVALUATION, you lose so much. A teacher can turn the camera on and off and the film can be watched. To me, this would be a cost savings!

Most definitely. But on more than one day, and in different classes~~ to get an accurate picture.

It should be a team decision.

There is no better way to understand each individual child then to observe and interact with him/her.

These classroom observations need to be performed by trained professionals who are knowledgeable in nonverbal learning challenges, verbal and nonverbal social cognition challenges, ADHD[all aspects},developmental stages, and academics as well as emotional challenges. If they are not and are performed by an unskilled watcher damage can be done and a true picture of the child not revealed.

I would clarify this as plural, OBSERVATIONS.

Although more than one may be necessary, as sometimes kids don't show their true selves until they are comfortable w/ the observer. Maybe if it was someone they knew already @ the school would be a good idea. & the teacher, etc should be unaware of when it is to take place, as it may make a difference in the child's behavior if they instruct the class differently.