DOUBLE TAP TO ZOOM WITH PHONE OR TABLET xiv Introduction There are nineteen Observation Practice Activities on the CD- ROM. The directions for viewing can be found at the end of each chapter. They involve watching video clips with a specific focus in mind and can be used by an individual or by groups in college course work, staff development sessions, in-service workshops, and staff meetings. We suggest that you read the chapter before view- ing the video clips and doing the activities. In this way you come to the video experience with basic knowledge and suggestions to apply to the viewing. For each observation practice we have provided a purpose, a video clip to observe, guiding questions to consider while watching the child and documenting what is seen, and a focus for group discussion. You can use each practice observation in many different ways. Watching the same video clip more than once will increase your understanding of how much can be learned through observation and give you more in-depth knowledge of ways to inter- pret what is seen. You will see on the CD-ROM that you can easily watch video clips more than once. We also suggest that you practice observation and documentation in your own work and home set- tings. You can observe with the same purposes as those identified in the nineteen Observation Practice Activities. The reflection activities are designed to help you think about the content of the chapter, analyzing and applying that content to your experiences with observation of children. You can answer the ques- tions in written form, or you can use them for discussion starters with others. Finding Your Observation Style activities are designed to be used in an ongoing journal format. We hope that by keeping a personal journal about your trials and errors with observation, you will dis- cover your own strengths and weaknesses in observing children. We also hope that by the end of your experience with this book and CD- ROM, you will think differently about the comment we shared at the beginning of this introduction. The next time you hear someone say, “I observe the children all day, but I don’t have time to write down what I’m seeing. That takes me away from the kids. And they just need me too much,” we hope you’ll answer, “Yes, observation and documentation are hard work. But it’s worth it! Now I make time for it because I see how much I learn about the children!” COPYRIGHTED MATERIAL