# What is a Montessori observation?

Source: https://www.futurenerds.dev/glossary/montessori-observation
Last updated: 2026-10-25

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

1. Tap Quick Record, or open a child and go to the Learning tab.
2. Pick the child and the observation type.
3. Link a curriculum area or a competency if the note is about a lesson.
4. Write what you saw.
5. Turn on "Share with parents" if the family should read it. It starts off.
6. Save.

## Related pages

- [Observations and record keeping](/product/observations)
- [Presented, practicing and mastered](/glossary/presented-practicing-mastered)
- [Writing observation notes a parent can read](/blog/factual-observation-notes)
- [How to observe a child without interrupting](/blog/observe-without-interrupting)
- [Montessori glossary](/glossary)

## 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.