Today the all the children had fun!!!!
The teacher brought in pumpkins today and gave the children carving knives to cut the pumpkin open.
After the teacher cut from the top to the mid-point of the pumpkin she asks, " Who wants a turn." All the children sitting at the table yell, "I do", I want a turn", Me, "Me". The children all got a turn of cutting the pumpkin. When the pumpkin was opened, they all felt the inside and replied the same, "ewwww". She talked to them about the seeds being edible and asked them if they've seen a pumpkin.
I loved how she brought a pumpkin out a month later. Even though some of the children don't celebrate Halloween they still see pumpkins. So it was nice to see that they were all able to experience a pumpkin and not having to only do it in October or do it as a holiday activity. I also enjoyed the questions that the teacher gave in prompting the children to think and draw imagery in their heads. I would add to this experience by either painting the seed, using them for some type of arts and craft or simply baking them and the children eating them.
Wednesday, November 16, 2011
Friday, November 11, 2011
Observation #8
Observation Day went well. I was a little under the weather but that didn't stop the pencil from moving! :)
When I walked in the classroom I seen at least 8 unfamiliar faces. The room was filled with students observing or interacting with the children. The some children were wild and flipping for attention, while others set still and were more observed then usual.
The teacher began group time by playing music to gather the children. Once everyone were in a circle she played her cd of audio reading. The children were attentive for the first three minutes. Then one of the students that were able to interact, joined the floor with the children. One after another they all leaped on her to sit in her lap or on the side of her. The 2 children that didn't get to sit close to the lady student got up and wondered the room. While trying to be directed back to the floor the entire group lost focused on the story and the room was chaotic.
Child: Can I play with the blocks
Teacher: No, we're about to have snack
Child: But I don't won't snack
Teacher walks away and prepares snack.
The daily routine is great but due to the high number of student observes in the classroom i think the routine could have been changed a little. With at least 5-6 students being able to interact, the teacher could have executed this day a lot better. I would have paired the children off with the 'interaction students' and had them follow their child to each activity table. Allowing for adult/child interaction for question expansion for the child's cognitive development, calming the children to the unstable environment of adults out numbering the students, and assuring the interaction students as well as the observing student being able to gain their need information.
When I walked in the classroom I seen at least 8 unfamiliar faces. The room was filled with students observing or interacting with the children. The some children were wild and flipping for attention, while others set still and were more observed then usual.
The teacher began group time by playing music to gather the children. Once everyone were in a circle she played her cd of audio reading. The children were attentive for the first three minutes. Then one of the students that were able to interact, joined the floor with the children. One after another they all leaped on her to sit in her lap or on the side of her. The 2 children that didn't get to sit close to the lady student got up and wondered the room. While trying to be directed back to the floor the entire group lost focused on the story and the room was chaotic.
Child: Can I play with the blocks
Teacher: No, we're about to have snack
Child: But I don't won't snack
Teacher walks away and prepares snack.
The daily routine is great but due to the high number of student observes in the classroom i think the routine could have been changed a little. With at least 5-6 students being able to interact, the teacher could have executed this day a lot better. I would have paired the children off with the 'interaction students' and had them follow their child to each activity table. Allowing for adult/child interaction for question expansion for the child's cognitive development, calming the children to the unstable environment of adults out numbering the students, and assuring the interaction students as well as the observing student being able to gain their need information.
Wednesday, November 2, 2011
Observation #7
Today's observation was slow in the beginning due to limited children the first 2 hours of opening, then it picked up once all the children arrived.
Today during group time the teacher played an audio book reading where as all the staff had to do was turn the page. Today's reading was in Spanish and English. The book gave so much excitement that the children were all involved. In the story the narrator used bueno and por favor a lot. The Hispanic children all understood what was being said. They even laughed at a certain part that no one else chuckled at. When the reading was over one of the staffs said por favor means please and bueno means good. Now to me, this book should have been read before introducing it to the children that are non-spanish speakers. The staff should have told them what the two spanish words meant ahead of time so they can follow along with the story. I would read this book again to the children. Giving them a heads up on all the spanish words mentioned. I would then have papers that were pre-written on with the words good, bueno, please, and por favor. I would allow them to copy the words and decorate their papers. My goal would be to develop their fine motor skills and language development with add to their vocabulary words in two different languages.
Today during group time the teacher played an audio book reading where as all the staff had to do was turn the page. Today's reading was in Spanish and English. The book gave so much excitement that the children were all involved. In the story the narrator used bueno and por favor a lot. The Hispanic children all understood what was being said. They even laughed at a certain part that no one else chuckled at. When the reading was over one of the staffs said por favor means please and bueno means good. Now to me, this book should have been read before introducing it to the children that are non-spanish speakers. The staff should have told them what the two spanish words meant ahead of time so they can follow along with the story. I would read this book again to the children. Giving them a heads up on all the spanish words mentioned. I would then have papers that were pre-written on with the words good, bueno, please, and por favor. I would allow them to copy the words and decorate their papers. My goal would be to develop their fine motor skills and language development with add to their vocabulary words in two different languages.
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