Explain to the child that you would like to support and assist with his report writing to reassure your presence. You do not want to intimidate your child or cause him to put off his report writing if he does not want you there.
Allow the child to sit down comfortably at his desk. Position a chair next to him, so you can observe his writing process.
Tell the child to ask for your help if he requires it. Disturbing the child while he is writing the report might interrupt the flow of thought, so observe quietly while he researches and collates his ideas on paper or at a computer.
Identify the child's organizational style to assess his report writing method; for example, if he researches using journals, newspapers or the Internet. Check to see if he takes notes or makes bullet points to summarize information before formally incorporating the details into the report.
Read what the child writes. Observation is a passive task, so do not comment on spelling mistakes or grammar because this could irritate the child. Simply review the report that the child writes. Review what section the child includes in the report, the introduction and evidence that are referenced throughout.