Elementary School Classroom Observation
On September 19th, 2016 I went to Wenonah Elementary School in Lake Grove, New York. I made an observation at the beginning of the day in Mrs. Cosenza first grade class. The purpose of this observation is to observe and evaluate the standards and correlations between teachers and students within the classroom during an activity. One observation would be planned by the teacher/aid and another one would be an activity that was initiated by a student or a group of students.
Class started at 9:15am, all of the children were ordered to place their backpacks and lunch in their cubbies, as well as hanging their coats up on a hanger. The rationale of this is to teach the children how to be more independent. As the class activities began for the day …show more content…
Mrs. Cosenza asked all the children to take a seat on the floor, she started to reflect on last week’s lesson. They were learning about how to become a good citizen. She asked the children “Does anyone remembers what makes a good citizen?” the children raise their hands stating that a respectable citizen is someone who is caring and shows consideration for other peoples’ needs, honesty, courage and responsibility. This discussion became the motivation for the activity. This guided Mrs. Cosenza into reading a book to the children called “Being helpful” by Margo Browne. The concept of reading this book is to demonstrate to the children different ways they can be thoughtful and compassionate towards others individuals needs and feelings. Including little ways that they can assist their acquaintances and parents.
Once the story was completed Mrs. Cosenza asked the children “What are some ways you can help your mom and dad?” The children responded by saying “keeping our bedrooms clean, helping their mother with laundry or helping their fathers outside with weeding the garden.” At this time all children were asked to go back to their seats, from there they were giving a booklet called “My Citizenship Book”.
The children were advised to open the booklet and write two sentences about what they consider responsibility to be and draw a picture related to what they wrote. The closure to the activity was finishing up their booklet and for the children who completed ahead of the class. They were giving the opportunity to use scrap paper and draw anything they pleased to do.
In my personal opinion, I felt the activity was developmentally appropriate for the children.
The children seemed to be interested in the activity and were able to relate the topic to their everyday life. When it comes to the NYS common core learning standard’s this learning activity falls under domain five, cognition and knowledge of the world section civics, citizenship and government. I do believe this activity is process-oriented because the child was given the opportunity to draw and write about what they think responsibility meant to them. The only form of adaptation I saw within the classroom was when the teacher needed to break down the directions for a few children that had problems understand what she was asking from the class with their citizenship book.
Adjacent to the social adaptation that was required for the few students. Mrs. Cosenza displayed the appropriate use of class management by using behavioral charts, such as given the children’s table a point if they were talking softly and following directions. As for encouragement of social skills, Mrs. Cosenza has a buddy chart called “Turn and talk partners”. All of the children are paired up with another student which is rotated every week. This gives the children a chance to interact with different children within the classroom for a short period of time before they have
lunch.
Furthermore, while observing I noticed only one child initiated active take place within the classroom. Once the children completed their citizenship booklet, a group that consist of 5 children (2 girls, 3 boys) were sitting at the green table. One of the boys told everyone at the table to draw a rocket ships and space scenes with him. This student’s statement encouraged the other children at the table to draw as group and it help promote social skills between the students. During this time period Mrs. Cosenza was sitting at her desk, unaware of the children using their imagination together as a group drawing pictures related too interplanetary. My beliefs are that, if Mrs. Cosenza was aware of how enthusiastic and fascinated the children were about the topic. She could have easily built an activity plan based on the theme space. From my past experiences children tend to be very interested in the sky, moon, sun and planets. This child initiated active did not last very long, due to the teacher being on a time schedule.
Overall, I enjoyed my time observing at the school and learning how Mrs. Cosenza operates her class. This was the first time for me to sit in a first grade class and I have noticed the grade level is a lot more structured compared to pre-k and kindergarten. When I am fully ready to teach, I would like to be teaching in a first grade class if possible.
Class started at 9:15am, all of the children were ordered to place their backpacks and lunch in their cubbies, as well as hanging their coats up on a hanger. The rationale of this is to teach the children how to be more independent. As the class activities began for the day …show more content…
Mrs. Cosenza asked all the children to take a seat on the floor, she started to reflect on last week’s lesson. They were learning about how to become a good citizen. She asked the children “Does anyone remembers what makes a good citizen?” the children raise their hands stating that a respectable citizen is someone who is caring and shows consideration for other peoples’ needs, honesty, courage and responsibility. This discussion became the motivation for the activity. This guided Mrs. Cosenza into reading a book to the children called “Being helpful” by Margo Browne. The concept of reading this book is to demonstrate to the children different ways they can be thoughtful and compassionate towards others individuals needs and feelings. Including little ways that they can assist their acquaintances and parents.
Once the story was completed Mrs. Cosenza asked the children “What are some ways you can help your mom and dad?” The children responded by saying “keeping our bedrooms clean, helping their mother with laundry or helping their fathers outside with weeding the garden.” At this time all children were asked to go back to their seats, from there they were giving a booklet called “My Citizenship Book”.
The children were advised to open the booklet and write two sentences about what they consider responsibility to be and draw a picture related to what they wrote. The closure to the activity was finishing up their booklet and for the children who completed ahead of the class. They were giving the opportunity to use scrap paper and draw anything they pleased to do.
In my personal opinion, I felt the activity was developmentally appropriate for the children.
The children seemed to be interested in the activity and were able to relate the topic to their everyday life. When it comes to the NYS common core learning standard’s this learning activity falls under domain five, cognition and knowledge of the world section civics, citizenship and government. I do believe this activity is process-oriented because the child was given the opportunity to draw and write about what they think responsibility meant to them. The only form of adaptation I saw within the classroom was when the teacher needed to break down the directions for a few children that had problems understand what she was asking from the class with their citizenship book.
Adjacent to the social adaptation that was required for the few students. Mrs. Cosenza displayed the appropriate use of class management by using behavioral charts, such as given the children’s table a point if they were talking softly and following directions. As for encouragement of social skills, Mrs. Cosenza has a buddy chart called “Turn and talk partners”. All of the children are paired up with another student which is rotated every week. This gives the children a chance to interact with different children within the classroom for a short period of time before they have
lunch.
Furthermore, while observing I noticed only one child initiated active take place within the classroom. Once the children completed their citizenship booklet, a group that consist of 5 children (2 girls, 3 boys) were sitting at the green table. One of the boys told everyone at the table to draw a rocket ships and space scenes with him. This student’s statement encouraged the other children at the table to draw as group and it help promote social skills between the students. During this time period Mrs. Cosenza was sitting at her desk, unaware of the children using their imagination together as a group drawing pictures related too interplanetary. My beliefs are that, if Mrs. Cosenza was aware of how enthusiastic and fascinated the children were about the topic. She could have easily built an activity plan based on the theme space. From my past experiences children tend to be very interested in the sky, moon, sun and planets. This child initiated active did not last very long, due to the teacher being on a time schedule.
Overall, I enjoyed my time observing at the school and learning how Mrs. Cosenza operates her class. This was the first time for me to sit in a first grade class and I have noticed the grade level is a lot more structured compared to pre-k and kindergarten. When I am fully ready to teach, I would like to be teaching in a first grade class if possible.