What is a Montessori observation?
A Montessori observation is a short, factual note about what one child did, written by a guide who watched without stepping in. Observations decide which lesson comes next and feed progress reports. In FutureNerds, each observation can be linked to a lesson and shared with parents or kept with staff.
What a good observation says
Write what you saw and heard, not what you think it means.
| Write | Leave out |
|---|---|
| "Chose the Pink Tower three times and built it largest to smallest." | "Loves the Pink Tower." |
| "Said 'm' and 'a' for the sandpaper letters, paused on 's'." | "Is good at letters." |
| "Waited for a turn at the snack table without being asked." | "Is very polite." |
A date, the material or lesson, and what the child did are enough. Opinions and diagnoses belong in a conversation with colleagues, not in the record.
Types of observation
FutureNerds has eight observation types: general, curriculum area, competency, grace and courtesy, conflict resolution, emotional regulation, community contribution and progress assessment. A competency observation is linked to one lesson, such as Golden Beads, and can change the child's mastery level at the same time.
How to record an observation in FutureNerds
- Tap Quick Record, or open a child and go to the Learning tab.
- Pick the child and the observation type.
- Link a curriculum area or a competency if the note is about a lesson.
- Write what you saw.
- Turn on "Share with parents" if the family should read it. It starts off.
- Save.
Questions and answers
How often should Montessori guides record observations?
Many guides write a few notes each day and make sure every child has at least one note each week. A short, regular note is more useful than a long one once a term.
Should parents see every observation?
No. In FutureNerds each observation has a "Share with parents" switch that starts off, so a guide decides which notes a family reads.
Can I record observations on a phone?
Yes. FutureNerds observations work on the web and in the apps for iPhone, iPad and Android.