Melba Posted September 11, 2012 Share Posted September 11, 2012 (edited) Can I ask for some more useful info? I have started trying to observe from the Leuven Scale and would like to know how anyone uses the information they get from it? Also do you observe at different times? A child could be very involved one minute and flitting around the next so how do you make a balanced judgement of their level on the scale or does that just apply to what you are observing at the time? How often would you observe from the scale? Thanks Edited September 11, 2012 by Melba Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cait Posted September 11, 2012 Share Posted September 11, 2012 We tend to look at the scales as a general over a snapshot observation so a child might be particularly involved in an activity, or apparently busy in the home corner, but when you really look, they are looking around the room, and not purposefully involved in their activity. Our observations are at different times anyway, and sometimes we do a time sample to look at what a child is doing over a period of time, in 5 minute samples. This also shows involvement and well-being and can help us to plan activities where we see a child is more purposefully involved. We use the scale for every observation Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
narnia Posted September 11, 2012 Share Posted September 11, 2012 Just had a little one start with me. Lovely, but almost silent 2 year old. Mum is very anxious about every aspect of his care.....................and showed me his previous carer's report on him, which stated that, in her opinion, the child is working at a Leuven scale level of MINUS 4. Now, I may be getting a little old and forgetful, but as far as I know, no such level exists? I have been reporting back to mum daily and yes, he IS very quiet and not keen, or willing yet to join in, and I really want to help that, but the child was with the previous carer for 18 months and I am beginning to wonder just how negative an experience this has been for him. Reading his learning journey, there are lots of moans and gripes from carer and virtually every experience that was offered to the child seems to have been met with a negative comment from her. I really think I'm going to have a long haul with this child, and feel very much like going back to basics, even to the extent of 'baby games' to establish where he truly is developmentally. Nice to have mum say how thrilled she was to have somebody make some positive statements about her child though. Back to thread: yes, we use the Leuven scales in the same way as Cait Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted September 12, 2012 Share Posted September 12, 2012 We use them in that way too. I hope that over time they will help to show the types of activity that each child enjoys and also to demonstrate a developing ability to focus on an activity. I feel they are more of a prompt to action for myself, than an assessment of the child - hence I'd be mortified to report a child was working at minus 4 - even if such a level on the scale existed! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cait Posted September 12, 2012 Share Posted September 12, 2012 Just a thought - it is a 'minus' and not a hyphen, isn't it? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
narnia Posted September 12, 2012 Share Posted September 12, 2012 no Cait, I spoke with the previous carer myself, definately MINUS ! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cait Posted September 13, 2012 Share Posted September 13, 2012 Bizarre. Could it be that she isn't understand the scale? She must have re-written it! I think you are right to be very uncomfortable with that. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Spiral Posted September 13, 2012 Share Posted September 13, 2012 I met professor Leuven once, he explained that the scale is not rocket science and that it is easy to see how involved a child is and whether they are enjoying/involved in what they are doing. He intentionally made the scale as simple as he could so it couldn't be messed around with and so everyone was using a uniform scale - it sounds very much like this previous carer that Narnia has met has made up her/his own scale. We use the Leuven scale once a term and reflect upon the child's general involvement/wellbeing, however, if I were to be looking at/monitoring a child's progress in a particular area (such as learning to speak up or enjoying a particular activity) then I would be using the scale at more regular times. Hope that helps a little. Spiral :-) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sue R Posted September 13, 2012 Share Posted September 13, 2012 Like others, we use the scale more as an 'overview' - there is no 'formal' scale that I'm aware of! Yes, that previous carer appears to have invented their own! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
skippy Posted September 13, 2012 Share Posted September 13, 2012 Hi Please could you let me know where I can read more about Leuven scale and its use. Thanks Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cait Posted September 13, 2012 Share Posted September 13, 2012 http://www.earlylearninghq.org.uk/earlylearninghq-blog/the-leuven-well-being-and-involvement-scales/ 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mundia Posted September 15, 2012 Share Posted September 15, 2012 I'm a big fan of the Leuven scales and have used them with settings to support reflective practice and self evaluation. I think looking back to professor Laevers' original research it was more in this camp, using what you see in the scores to develop practice further, as a whole, as well as for individual children. Its always interesting to hear how others use them, but certainly there are no negative scores! Odd, that. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Melba Posted September 15, 2012 Author Share Posted September 15, 2012 I'm a big fan of the Leuven scales and have used them with settings to support reflective practice and self evaluation. I think looking back to professor Laevers' original research it was more in this camp, using what you see in the scores to develop practice further, as a whole, as well as for individual children. Its always interesting to hear how others use them, but certainly there are no negative scores! Odd, that. X Can you tell us how you used the scales to reflect and evaluate as that sounds interesting? 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted September 17, 2012 Share Posted September 17, 2012 Gotta love leuven - heard him talk a few times too. we too use it as a spur of the moment judgment, they are done with each long ob and i do a scan 2-3 times ayear we also use use them on areas to help improve those Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts