anecdotal recording

Anecdotal RecordsEden Mae SelimBSEd-English-3

What are Anecdotal Records?Refer to the recorded accounts of pertinent,

characteristic actions and observations of an

individual as noted and written by a teacher.

What are Anecdotal Records?It is also a written report describing an incident of an individual behaviour.

Anecdotal records are… Helpful sources of information in

evaluating pupil’s growth

Useful for teachers in obtaining greater understanding of their pupils and in identifying the causes of pupil’s behaviour

Purpose provide information regarding a student's

development over a period of time provide ongoing records about individual

instructional needs capture observations of significant

behaviors that might otherwise be lost provide ongoing documentation of

learning that may be shared with students, parents and teachers.

Why make a record? Fallibility of human

memory

Inadequacy of human beings as assemblers and combiners of facts about another person

A record provides stable evidence on which later appraisals can be based.

It also provides a type of documentation about a person, whether to school authorities, to parents, or to a potential, that lends weight and substance to the report.

Who should be observed?The children will be

ordinarily selected for observation in terms of the teacher’s special

interest in them.

What should be recorded? Interaction of a child with the other

children in the room Evidence of acceptance or rejection,

aggression or withdrawal Events that throw light on the child’s

role in the group and his reaction to it

3 Common DeviationsThe anecdote… Evaluates – tells the teacher’s reaction to

the child

Interprets – gives the teacher’s conclusion as to the reasons for behaviour

Describes – in general terms rather than in specific terms

Features of a Good Anecdotal Record

1. It provides an accurate description of a specific event.

2. It describes the setting sufficiently to give the event meaning.

3. The interpretation is separated from the description.4. The event it describes is one that relates to the child’s

personal development or social interactions.5. The event it describes is either representative of the

typical behaviour of the child or significant because it is strikingly different from his usual form of behaviour.

How should Anecdotal Records be kept?

The appropriate form-keeping of records will depend upon the primary purpose for which they

are being kept. • If the records serve to guide the teacher’s

study of two or three particular pupils, they may well be kept in the form of two or three separate logs or diaries.

• If an individual file folder is used, an 8 ½ x 11 inch sheet of paper will often prove suitable.

What should be done to organize or summarize records?

A thumbnail sketch of the individual, as shown by the anecdotes, should be prepared. Health Intellectual Ability Academic Achievements Home Surroundings Family Pattern

• In the summary, as in the records themselves, the descriptive summary and its interpretations should be kept clearly differentiated.

4 Types of Anecdotal Records1. Evaluative StatementsThe teacher includes statements that evaluate or judge the behaviour of the pupil observed.

Example:“… X was very active in our poetry class and wanted to do just what she wanted to do. She simply did not have consideration for others. I

had to ask her to sit in front. For this, she showed a bad attitude.”

4 Types of Anecdotal Records2. Interpretive StatementsThese statements are attempts to account for or explain the behaviour of the pupil on the basis of single observation noted.

Example:“… X has been over-active in class lately. He

won’t stay in his seat. He is growing so fast that he cannot remain settled… Of course, the inward

change, the growth, causes the restlessness.”

4 Types of Anecdotal Records3. Generalized Descriptive StatementsStatements with very broad general terms and with qualifying adverbs (frequently, everyday, always, etc.)

Example:“… X has been awfully restless these days. He is whispering most of the time. He is not kept busy.

In the circle during various discussions, even though he is interested, his arms are moving, or

he is punching the one sitting next to him.”

4 Types of Anecdotal Records4. Specific or Concrete Descriptive StatementThe teacher describes concretely the situation in which the action or comment occurred.

Example:“… X did not go out to play during recess although the weather was just fine. She stayed in the room by herself. She was

reading a novel.”

*10 Suggestions On How To Do Anecdotal Recording*Anecdotal Records EXAMPLES*CRITERIA Of Good Anecdotal Records*Advantages And Limitations Of Anecdotal Records

1. The record or notation should be carefully thought out, though not laboriously prepared. It should be brief, objective, and clear.

2. The notations are best written in a notebook or journal soon after the behavior has been observed.

3. This should not include the observer’s interpretation of the behavior. If comments are to be made at all, they should be put in separate sheets, preferably at the back of the anecdotal sheet.

4. Since teachers have many other things to do, they are not expected to make anecdotal records for all of the pupils each day. 3 or 4 pupils whose behavior have been significantly meaningful to the teacher should be sufficient for recording in the notebook each day.

5. such observations should be recorded during the day, preferably very soon after the behavior has been observed. It is not advisable to wait after two or three days to do this.

6. the date of the entry should be put; the observer should initial the entry correspondingly.

7. If cooperative anecdotal recording is done, the records should be in one notebook.

8. while anecdotal records are normally confidential in nature, it is advisable for other teachers who teach the pupil in other subjects to have access to the pupil’s anecdotal notebook.

9. the teachers handling the pupils should cooperate in summarizing the observation notes for evaluation purposes.

10. in the interpretation of the anecdotal records, the behavioral patterns that tend to be repeated are indicative of the pupil’s typical performance. These should probably be the topics to be taken up in the interviews, if any, with him.

Anecdotal Records

(Form No. 1)

Pupil _______________________________ Grade/ Year _____________ Date Place Observer Records

Criteria of Good Anecdotal Records1. Objectivity

- Anecdotal records do not give an account of the personal emotional reaction of the reporter or the one who makes the record.2. Adequate Background

- Records give definite information about time, place and person involved, as well as name, age, and the specific situation or situations wherein the pupil is observed.3. Selectivity

- Teachers and trained workers can select which of the anecdotes are significant in understanding a pupil’s problem.4. Reliability

- The report is based exactly on one’s personal observation, not on hearsay.

ANECDOTAL EXAMPLES

Anecdotal Record Activity: Learning center – Tables_  Date : 11/09/02Observer: Teacher TinaStudent’s Name: Tommy Uy

Description of Observation: Tommy ran over to the table where other students were completing puzzles shouting, “Here I come!”  He then approached another student and asked, “Can I have that puzzle?” Other student: No, I’m not finished.  Jimmy: But I need that one to build my rocketship. Other student: Mrs. H says you have to wait your turn.  Jimmy: Mrs. H, Mrs. H, can I have that puzzle now?  Mrs. H: when ___ is finished, you may have a turn.  Jimmy: Set the timer then. (to other student) You have 1 minute, right Mrs. H?   Jimmy then sat at the table with his face supported by his hands and repeated 5 times, Time is almost up.  When the timer rang, Jimmy took the puzzle and dumped it and began assembling it himself.

Advantages and Limitations of Anecdotal Records

1. The most important advantage of anecdotal records is that they provide a description of actual behavior in natural situations.

2. A special advantage to the elementary teacher is that anecdotal records can be used with very young pupils and with others who are retarded in basic communication skills.

3. The major limitation of anecdotal records is the amount of time required in maintaining an adequate system of records. Though this can be offset somewhat by limiting observations and reports as suggested earlier, it is still a time-consuming task.

4. A serious limitation of anecdotal records is the difficulty of being objective when observing and reporting pupil behavior.

Improving the Effectiveness of

Anecdotal Records1. Determine in advance what to observe, but be alert for unusual behavior.2. Observe and record enough of the situation to make the behavior meaningful.3. Make a record of the incident soon after the observation is made.4. Limit each anecdote to a brief description of a single specific incident.

5. Keep the factual description of the incident and your interpretation of it separate.6. Record both positive and negative behavioral incidents.7. Collect a number anecdotes on a pupil before drawing inferences concerning typical behavior.8. Obtain practice in writing anecdotal records.