Observation checklist in the classroom (structured – free choice)

Sharing –

Aldo- kids were very good at sharing, and were able to work well together and communicate with one and other

Children’s center- For the most part they were very good at sharing, but there were times that they would whine and steal toys from one and other

Notre Dame- was not able to see opportunity for sharing

Listening – students posture, position

- Aldo- kids listened very well; the teacher accommodated the needs for the students who had trouble listening to having them in a designated area.

- Children’s center- same as Aldo but there was not really a designated area for the kids that were rowdy.

- Notre Dame- the kids listened very well and they were placed in desks

Aggression

- Only witnessed aggression when it came to sharing toys in the children center, but it was very mild

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Helping

- kids all helped each other.

Creativity

Obeying the rules of the classroom

Engagement

How engaging are the centers?

- Aldo/ children center the kids were engaged and enjoyed sharing their work, because they were proud

- Kids were mildly engaged, but often walked out of their desks because they wanted to explore the room, but would be asked to sit down

Asking for help from teachers/one another

Gender roles

- Children center- boys and girls both played in dramatic play and took on the roles of different genders.

Technology play

- No real sign of technology in Aldo, Children Center has two computers and Notre Dame has a smart board.

Role of play

I have been observing at many different locations, for different grades. I have been to Aldo in a Kindergarten class, and saw that it was a play based schools and the impact that it has on students. They are encouraged to use many different instruments to write with, with the main focus being that they are engaged in what they are doing. The students interact very well with one another, and take responsibility for what they are supposed to do. I noticed that the student hand out their own materials to one another, and work together. This reminds me of the importance of play, and how it allows students to work together and gain social skills. I also have been to Notre Dame academy in a 2nd grade classroom, and the atmosphere is much different than Aldo. Kids have to sit in desks, and use specific writing instruments. They have to do worksheets, and I noticed that these kids are a lot more fidgety than the kindergartners. When asked to do their work the kids kind of make a face, and you can tell that they are not enjoying themselves. At the children center, the room is divided up into centers, with different materials at the kids disposal. The kids are able to choose what they want to do, and they enjoy these activities. Having the room set up in this way, allows the kids with different learning styles to experience different ways of learning, but if they dont feel comfortable, they can do something more in their comfort zone.

Role of play: Play movie

Nature is a free playground for children to explore and experiment with their limitations. This movie demonstrated how the lack of nature is effecting children from all different background and living environments. I really liked the box activity taking a kids who grew up in a suburb and urban town and asked them to create a city. It was very cool to see how kids can do the same activity but approach it entirely differently, and where kids were brought up effect this activity. I know that technology has impacted our daily lives, but never know how much kids were being exposed, and how negative it is for their cognitive development. Violence is in so many movies, shows and video games, that there is no surprise that kids tend to be more violent when they are involved in these things, because kids learn primarily through imitation. This video stresses how kids need to be outside, away from technology and learn through exploration, and I thought it did a good job of showing it.

Waldorf Movie

This project was really fun and frustrating to complete. At first I was having trouble with the technology and figuring out how to work the imovie, but than when I got the hang of it it was really fun to put the movie together. I feel that by putting the movie together i was able to learn about Waldorf in a really fun and creative way. Searching the internet and looking for pictures, and videos of what it is like to be a part of a Waldorf school, gave me the chance to visual what it is like. I am very much a visual learner so it helped me to see the videos my classmates put together to see the schools that they learned about as well.

Role of Play: Pico Crickets

Me and my fellow group members were allowed to play with PicoCrickets in class, which is a new software out for kids that allow them to create through play. Chen, Kristi and I created a ballerina that moves when we touch a sensor after programing it on the computer, and a yellow light flashes on. We found it was hard to get all of the components to work at the same time, and some trials one thing would work and other times they would not. Overall it was a good experience to get involved with what they kids are working on.

At Aldo I noticed that the classroom style was a lot less informal in the way that the kids were able to address the teacher by their first name, and use markers to write in their daily journals. Yet it was good to observe how on task the students were and how they knew what where their journals were supposed to go after they had checked it over with Melissa. Also I was able to compare my sophomore block school ( Howe) to Aldo and It was weird to me to see kids so free to go to recess with out waiting for the other students or teacher to walk them down. I think this is a great way to show children responsibility.

Aldo

on Monday Feb. 15 was my first day at Aldo in the kindergarten class. I didn't really know a lot about the philosophy of the school so I was shocked when the kids referred to the teacher by her first name instead of last. When I was there the kids did journals and than math. I was amazed at how well the kids behaved, and how one boy Pennigton was able to spell Madison and President with no help. I also observed that one boy had his own designated corner to go to in order to do the work assigned. I noticed that when they were in a large group this boy would spin on his knees and act out a little, but when he was in his own corner he was able to perform well with out distraction. Overall it was a great first day, and some of the kids even wrote about me in their journal which was a great feeling!

First blog post

Hi Dr. Tichy,