Watching Learning Unfold
Observation in Play-Based Learning
Play is at the heart of how young children learn, grow, and demonstrate what they know. This webinar invites Head Start teachers to look closely at the learning happening during children’s everyday play. Participants will explore how play-based experiences support observation and documentation across the objectives for development and learning, with a focus on capturing meaningful information during both child-directed and teacher-guided play. The session highlights how observations from play inform planning, individualization, and intentional teaching in early childhood classrooms.
Strong observation and documentation practices help turn everyday moments into opportunities for intentional teaching and meaningful assessment. In this three-part webinar series, Head Start teachers will explore practical strategies for observing children’s learning through play; documenting meaningful evidence; and using observations to better understand children’s development, including their social-emotional growth and challenging behaviors.
In this series, you’ll learn how to
- capture meaningful observations during everyday play,
- use observation data to inform planning and individualize instruction, and
- better understand and respond to challenging behaviors through objective observation.
Join us to strengthen your observation and documentation practices and gain practical strategies you can use right away to support every child’s learning and development.
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Seeing With IntentionThursday, August 6, 2026 | 1:00PM EDT -
Looking Beneath the BehaviorWednesday, September 9, 2026 | 1:00PM EDT
