Environmental Observation
Introduction
1. I visited the Pre-School program, This Program is part of the public school system and is offered either half day 8:30 to 11:00 or full day 8:30 to 2:30. There are currently two classroom dedicated for the . The has its own wing to help keep the little ones apart from the older children, although the school is only Pk-2 grade. There is an M-F full day class with 8 children that attend every day. There is an AM and PM M-W-F and T- TH ½ days with around 10 to 12 children, making a total class size of about 20 children per day. The children are aged between 3 and 5 years. The is staffed in accordance to EEC regulations.
2. A) See drawing…
B) Realistic changes….
The teachers use a Theme Based method “tools of the mind” adapted from Lev Vygotsky. Its theme based, that everything in the room has to do with only that theme. The theme while I was there was “VET”, everything that doesn’t have to do with pets, animals or the vet is turned around or covered up. This includes all books, coloring pages, toys, and arts & crafts. I believe it made the room look messier than it really was. They had to turn their sand table into the dog groomers table and the puppet theater into the vet clinic. Although I really liked the idea behind the theme I didn’t like that the class room seemed to be turned almost upside down to have to do it. Teachers are given two rooms, they use one room mainly for snack and circle time (we will call this room 2) the other room for play (we will call this room 1) most of their manipulatives and larger cardboard blocks were in room 2. I would defiantly have both of these in my main play area. I don’t know if room 2 seemed more playful because they hadn’t hidden everything as they did in room 1, this every well could be the case.
Summary
3. The wing is on the left hand side of the school, before you walk into the class there are lockers for each child to put his or her belongings. As you walk into the
1. I visited the Pre-School program, This Program is part of the public school system and is offered either half day 8:30 to 11:00 or full day 8:30 to 2:30. There are currently two classroom dedicated for the . The has its own wing to help keep the little ones apart from the older children, although the school is only Pk-2 grade. There is an M-F full day class with 8 children that attend every day. There is an AM and PM M-W-F and T- TH ½ days with around 10 to 12 children, making a total class size of about 20 children per day. The children are aged between 3 and 5 years. The is staffed in accordance to EEC regulations.
2. A) See drawing…
B) Realistic changes….
The teachers use a Theme Based method “tools of the mind” adapted from Lev Vygotsky. Its theme based, that everything in the room has to do with only that theme. The theme while I was there was “VET”, everything that doesn’t have to do with pets, animals or the vet is turned around or covered up. This includes all books, coloring pages, toys, and arts & crafts. I believe it made the room look messier than it really was. They had to turn their sand table into the dog groomers table and the puppet theater into the vet clinic. Although I really liked the idea behind the theme I didn’t like that the class room seemed to be turned almost upside down to have to do it. Teachers are given two rooms, they use one room mainly for snack and circle time (we will call this room 2) the other room for play (we will call this room 1) most of their manipulatives and larger cardboard blocks were in room 2. I would defiantly have both of these in my main play area. I don’t know if room 2 seemed more playful because they hadn’t hidden everything as they did in room 1, this every well could be the case.
Summary
3. The wing is on the left hand side of the school, before you walk into the class there are lockers for each child to put his or her belongings. As you walk into the