The Art of Awareness: How Observation Can Transform Your Teaching [Paperback]

Deb Curtis (Author), Margie Carter (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: July 1, 2002

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.

Editorial Reviews

From Library Journal

Curtis and Carter are early childhood experts who have both coauthored several books in the field of early childhood education. This book, their fifth together, is designed to offer ideas, activities, experiences, and practical strategies to help teachers and readers learn to value children of their individuality. The authors point out that one reason many current observation techniques fall short is that they ensure that each child is developing based on teaching techniques already in placeDrather than evolving those teaching techniques based on the development of each child. They truly believe that observation is more than just a teaching technique. Observing children provides a new way of thinking about learning and teaching, a way of making children visible just as they are, not just as teachers want them to be. The book is interspersed with photographs and observation stories, often with transcriptions of children's conversations. The text is easy to understand, and readers will find a list of resources for further study valuable. An inspiring and practical book for early childhood education; recommended for public and academic libraries.DSamuel T. Huang, Univ. of Arizona, Tucson
Copyright 2001 Reed Business Information, Inc.

From the Back Cover

 Discover a new way to be with children

The key to observing children, state authors Deb Curtis and Margie Carter in The Art of Awareness, is using observation as 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 wtching or taking notes about children--they will discover a different way of being with children.

Featuring nine Observation Study Sessions, The Art of Awareness offers ideas, activities, and experiences--much more than just a set of checklists and facts to learn.  Chapters cover seven different aspects of children's lives and how to observe them, as well as tips for gathering and preparing documentation.

Observation requires a committment 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 in your care--and how to see what they see.

--This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Paperback: 192 pages
• Publisher: Redleaf Press (July 1, 2002)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1884834841
• ISBN-13: 978-1884834844
• Product Dimensions: 10.6 x 9 x 0.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.2 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #286,448 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)