Observation Survey — The Video Guidenotes
These guidenotes provide examples of how the recording sheets for the tasks may be used to record, score and comment on the responses of two children, Aidan and Chris. There are suggestions for anyone learning to give the survey and also comments on how the two teachers in the video work with their children. These guidenotes are designed to supplement a careful reading of An Observation Survey of Early Literacy Achievement.
An Observation Survey, The Video
An Observation Survey, The Video
Two teachers administer the Observation Survey to two children, providing a visual resource to assist viewers to understand the standard ways of administering and scoring the six observation tasks. This video is designed to supplement a careful reading of An Observation Survey of Early Literacy Achievement. It enriches understanding by presenting accomplished administrations which do not disadvantage the child being assessed. It shows how this survey can be given in a reliable, valid and fair way.
Research Reports
Pilot study to develop a new version of the Hearing and Recording Sounds in Words task (PDF)
Renorming five tasks of the Observation Survey for New Zealand (PDF)
Ages: 5-7 years
About the Author
Marie Clay
For three decades Marie Clay has been acknowledged as a world leader in research on literacy learning, child development and the prevention of learning disorders.
Her early academic work as a child psychologist involved the observation and study of children as they acquire literacy. An outcome of this research was the development of reliable tools for assessing progress with literacy learning and these instruments have been published and are widely used around the world today.
Marie's decision to focus on struggling learners and the resulting development of the Reading Recovery early intervention changed how the education community worldwide viewed these children's chances of becoming literate.
There are many other publications by Marie Clay in the areas of writing, oral language and classroom learning.