It was noted that paraprofessional child caregivers working with economically disadvantaged children did not base instructional choices on data derived from direct observations. As a result, this practicum was implemented to improve the observation and recording skills of five caregivers serving as group leaders of day care workers. Centers involved were operated by the public schools in an eastern, industrialized city. Practicum goals were to: (1) provide participants with information and experiences indicating the importance of observation and recording in early childhood programs; (2) provide opportunities to practice observational techniques; and (3) emphasize the importance of systematic observation for program planning. Observational techniques selected as most appropriate to workers' abilities and work situations included use of checklists, event sampling, and photography. To achieve the goals, a series of workshops and field experiences were implemented. Participants practiced the techniques in their classrooms during the 3 months of the practicum. Evaluation data indicated that all five participating child caregivers improved, but improvements were uniformly low. All participants, however, felt they had improved significantly. Related materials are appended. (RH)