Handout Nine: Shadowing
Instructions: In this activity, you will follow and observe another staff member. By "shadowing" co-workers, you can learn a great deal about the different ways they contribute to parent involvement. This experience can help you think about and improve upon you own role.Start by making a list of all staff by job title who work directly at your program site (for example: bus driver; nutritionist; teacher; home visitor):
Select or two that you would like to "shadow" so you can learn more about how they interact with parents. Plan to follow each one for 30 minutes to an hour.
Talk with your supervisor to arrange for times when you can be excused from your regular duties to do the shadowing exercise. Then one by one, talk to the selected staff members to explain the exercise, ask for their cooperation and arrange a time when you can observe them in action with parents.
Before shadowing, review the Sample Observation Sheet. It shows you how to use the form to take notes.
Make enough copies of the Observation Sheet for each time that you will shadow. Attach those copies to a clipboard to make it easier for you to take notes as you shadow.
During the shadowing, use your Observation Sheet to record:
Shadow the staff member for a half an hour to an hour, until you have been able to make several observations of their interactions with parents. When there is a good breaking point and that person can spend a few minutes with you, talk about what you observed. Ask the staff member, any questions that you have and thank them foe their time. Finally, make a note of any strategies that you saw that staff member use that you would like to try.
- Specific staff actions and statements that the staff member makes to involve parents
- Your observations of what happened as a result of those actions and statements
Optional approach: Pair up with another staff member and do the observations as a team. Each of you should fill out an Observation Sheet while shadowing, then compare you observations afterward.
Sample Shadowing Observation Sheet
Staff Member Observed Blair Thomas Title disabilities coordinator
Location entry area Time of Observation 7:45 to 8:30
Activity morning drop-off of children
1. Staff Action
Mr. Thomas stopped organizing materials to walk over and greet parent volunteer when she arrived.Observation
Parent smiled a little when Mr. Thomas walked over to her. Mr. Thomas and child warmly exchanged greetings.
2. Staff Action
Mr. Thomas led parent to shelf and gave information on community resources. Also gave parent some at-home activities to do with the child.Observation
Parent asked Mr. Thomas a few questions. Seemed very willing to try out the activity.
3. Staff Action
Mr. Thomas pulled up a chair and sat down to talk to parent in motorized wheelchair who came in to drop off her child.Observation
Parent and Mr. Thomas conversed at eye level with each other.
Wrap-Up Questions and Comments
Mr. Thomas said that it took a few months to adapt to a variety of interactions with parents. Now he thinks "How would I want to be related to if I were this parent entering the center?"Shadowing Observation Sheet
Staff Member Observed __________________ Title ____________________
Location ___________________________ Time of Observation ____________to ________________
Activity __________________________________________________________1. Staff Action
Observation
2. Staff Action
Observation
3. Staff Action
Observation
Wrap-Up Questions and Comments