Purpose of Assignment:
This assignment asks you to visit an early childhood program. This will allow you to see some principles and practices of Early Childhood Education being implemented. Additionally, this assignment will allow you to reflect on some of the rewards and challenges of working with young children.
Assignment Instructions:
First decide which early childhood program you would like to visit from the list of mentor teacher sites provided.
From the questions below, choose five questions you would like to explore. These questions must be answered through observation alone. Do not attempt to get verbal answers from directors or teachers.
What is the teacher’s role/responsibility in the classroom?
How does the classroom’s practices reflect the history of ECE as described in Chapter 3?
Using the chapter on development as a guide what do I notice about children’s:
Physical development?
Cognitive development?
Social and Emotional development?
What is lunch or snack time like, AND how does it support development in all domains?
What is group time like, AND what developmental skills are supported?
What is the outdoor environment like, AND how does it support development in all domains?
How do teachers handle difficult situations?
What is the aesthetic environment like (colors, furnishings, lighting, decoration, storage) AND how does it compare to what is recommended in your book?
What types of learning areas are in the classroom, AND how do they support development in all domains?
How do teachers communicate with children? Give examples of how they are respectful (or disrespectful) to children.
Call the director or provider and make an appointment. Inform the director that you are a student in ECE 1A and that you are requesting to schedule an appointment for a 1-2 hour visit. Explain that during your visit:
You will be quietly observing and taking notes.
You will not interrupt the staff working with the children.
You will not be interacting with children.
You will not be interviewing the teachers or directors.
During the visit, please follow these guidelines:
For all visits – when you arrive, have the teacher/director sign your completed Observation Admission Ticket.
Be polite and respectful.
Blend into the wall and unobtrusively observe.
Take detailed and descriptive notes.
The teachers and director are extremely busy and their first priority is to the children. Please do not ask them questions or take up their time to complete the assignment. Use this as an opportunity to practice your skills of observation and understanding of what we are learning in this principles and practices course.
Written Report
Start your report with a cover page. Upload your paper here.
Please label each section:
Program Information
List the following information. Please type out what you see below (5 points):
Date, time, and length of observation
First and last name of the director
Name of program
Address, city, state, and zip code of program
Phone number of the program
Program funding source
Age group
Class Schedule (5 points) – Write (in list form) or copy the daily schedule. If there is no posted schedule, keep a time record of what happened during your visit (free play, meals, routines, activities, etc).
Program Visit Questions – (25 points) For each of the five questions that you decided on, write a 2 paragraph answer based on your visit. Include examples to illustrate what you are saying. Please write each question before each corresponding answer.
For your conclusion summary, answer the following questions – 10 points:
What was your overall feeling about the program you observed?
What would it feel like to be a child in this program?
What would be the most challenging thing about working in this program?
What would be the most enjoyable thing about working in this program?
Program Observation Admission Ticket – Scan, copy and paste your admission ticket or upload along with your report- 5 points.
