What are formal written observations in early childhood education called?

Formal written observations in early childhood education are referred to as running records. This method involves continually recording a child's behaviors and interactions over a specific period, allowing educators to capture a comprehensive view of the child's development, learning style, and social interactions. Running records are particularly useful because they provide a real-time, objective basis for evaluating a child's progress and areas of need, which can inform curriculum planning and individualized instruction.

Notebooks and daily logs may track information, but they do not typically provide the structured and detailed observational data that running records entail. Evaluation reports are often broader and might summarize findings from various types of assessments rather than focusing specifically on the ongoing observation of a child in a learning environment. Therefore, running records stand out as the established method for documenting detailed observations in early childhood education settings.