The Art of Awareness: How Observation Can Transform Your Teaching

by Deb Curtis, Margie Carter

The key to observing children, state authors Deb Curtis and Margie
Carter in The Art of Awareness, is to know that observation is more than
just a teaching technique. Observing children closely provides a new way of
thinking about learning and teaching, a way of making children visible as
they are, not just as we want them to be. Observant teachers will find more
than techniques for watching or taking notes about children they will
discover a different way of being with children.



Featuring nine "Observation Study Sessions," The Art of Awareness is
designed to offer ideas, activities, and experiences, as opposed to just a
set of checklists and facts to learn. Chapters cover observing for seven
different aspects of children s lives as well as tips for gathering and
preparing documentation.



Observation requires a commitment to systematic study and ongoing practice,
write Curtis and Carter. The Art of Awareness is an inspiring and practical
look at how to see the children and what they see in your care.


About The Author
Both Deb Curtis and Margie Carter travel extensively to
conduct seminars on their work, and have been active in professional
organizations, including CDA, NAEYC accreditation, and the Culturally
Relevant Anti-Bias Leadership in Education Project. The Art of Awareness is
their fifth book together. Their other books The Visionary Director: A
Handbook for Dreaming, Organizing, and Improvising in Your Center; Training
Teachers: A Harvest of Theory and Practice; Spreading the News: Sharing the
Stories of Early Childhood Programs; and Reflecting Children s Lives: A
Handbook for Planning Child-Centered Curriculum have become standard texts
in the field of early childhood education.

Genres: Education, Teaching, Nonfiction

173 pages, Paperback

First published September 1, 2000

Reviews

[Lesley · Rating 5 out of 5]

I teach child development courses and I used this book for a course of Observation and Assessment of Young Children. I thought the authors did a fantastic job on portraying children as capable and competent learners.

[Candice Cleniuk · Rating 5 out of 5]

This a really wonderful book for anyone working with children. Especially if you are interested in emergent curriculum. I will be referring to this book often when I need inspiration, ideas, or quotes.

[Andrea Putman · Rating 4 out of 5]

I actually took Curtis and Carters "art of awareness" two day long training with the book. Amazing experience!

[Thea · Rating 4 out of 5]

Read the newest version which has a deeper dive into equity and social justice in ece and includes a greater diversity of boices and perspectives. Great text for starting tp examine the what and why of documentation in early childhood. I use a number of exercises, reflective questions, and learning stories to dialogue and reflection among students in my ece classes.

[Amanda · Rating 5 out of 5]

Each chapter filled my soul on how to wonder about and with children. I appreciated the documentation shared was of ways to be curious about all behaviours including those that at first glance appear difficult, and how we as the adults can use a different lens to shift our perspective.

[Andrea Cleland · Rating 4 out of 5]

A lot of concrete ideas for your own meditations and reflections, as well as activities for young children

[Alexandria Steele · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book taught me that time spent sitting and observing is not time wasted. It helped me to slow down and make my time with children count for something,