English

Preschool Visitation: A Center for Young Children

(80 Points)

Visiting in person is one of the best ways to learn about a center for young children. The purpose of your observation is to give you a better perception of centers for young children, classroom environments, and how adults and children engage with each other.

You will make a visit to a center for young children (NO Family Day Care centers). Remember, the program you select must serve children between the ages of 3 and 5.

First Impressions

Your observation starts as you enter the center and approach the classroom. How does the outdoor look? How is the hallway decorated? Are there examples of the children’s work that tell you something about the philosophy of the school?

As you enter the room, how do the children respond? Children who are busy learning may only take very brief notice, if any, of a new adult coming into the room. Your immediate first impressions are important. Do the children seem happy, busy, interested?

How to Observe

Try to sit in an out-of-the-way place. If a child comes up to you, be pleasant but try not to engage in a long conversation. Save questions for the teacher for later. As a courtesy you should set up any classroom observations ahead of time with the staff. Your presence should not be a surprise to the teacher. Be prepared to visit the center for at least two hours.

Here are some specific things to look for:

· Remember the “Lime Activity” – Look for details

· See how the children are informally grouped around the room.

· Watch how the teachers interact with the children.

· Is any child having a problem, either acting aggressively or feeling angry, sad, or frustrated?

Your observation is due on ____9/21/2012____________. Please follow the format of the Preschool Visitation Form. Attach any name tag given from the preschool. Use this form for notes and a draft of your answers while you are observing. Later, make sure to type all of your answers in the same format on an electronic copy of this form. Make sure to use complete sentences in your final copy. Finally, type a one page summary with your opinion of the total observation and experience.

Have fun! I look forward to reading about your experiences.

PRESCHOOL VISITATION FORM

Preschool Observation Verification Form

This student is required to observe in a Child Care Center while in preschool children are attending for a minimum of two hours. Please sign and return this card to the student only after they have completed all the blanks accurately.

Student’s Name_______________________________________________________________

Name of the Child Care Center____________________________________________________

Center Address_________________________________________________________________

Center Telephone Number________________________________________________________

Date of Visit___________________________________________________________________

Time In_______________________________________________________________________

Time Out______________________________________________________________________

Director’s name_________________________________________________________________

Teacher’s Name________________________________________________________________

Age of the children observed (Must be between 3-5 years of age)_________________________

Number of Children Present_______________________________________________________

Number of Adults Present_________________________________________________________

I believe the information above is accurate. ________________________________________

Director or Teacher/s signature

Thank you for assisting this student with this assignment. If there are any questions or problems please contact the student’s instructor, Gail Amos at (310) 461-9082 [email protected]

Use complete sentences

I. General Information:

a) Briefly, describe the growth and development of the center, including the beginning date and how the program was started. If available, attach a brochure or flyer for the center.

b) Type of program (name and describe what type – Preschool, Infant/Toddler, (NAFCC)Family Home Day Care, Head Start, Montessori, Reggio Emilia, High Scope, etc.)

c) Philosophy of the Program (Speak to staff and/or refer to brochure regarding what they believe).

d) Enrollment:

i. Total number of children served in the entire school:

ii. Age range of children in the entire school:

e) Staffing

i. List titles of all staff including, but not limited to, directors, teachers, aides, custodians, nutritionist/cooks, consultants, etc. Record their exact titles and the number of staff in each position.

Position/Personnel Title	How many on Site

ii. Select two positions that are of interest to you and include the following information for each position. Speak with the director/site supervisor or obtain information on your own through Internet research, job banks, classified ads, etc. about each position. Include the following

· Qualifications required for the position

· Degree and/or units

· Type of experience

· Years of experience

· Starting Salary

· Opportunity for professional growth

II. Classroom Environment

A. Number of children in classroom observed:

B. Number of adults in classroom observed:

AGE	2	3	4	5
STUDENTS
STAFF

C. Describe the classroom. (USE COMPLETE SENTENCES)

i. How is it set up? That is, is it set up into centers? Is it an open setting, neat or cluttered, use multicultural materials or pictures, etc.

ii. Is it a safe, warm, loving place to have children?

iii. Is there ample space that allows for children and adults to move around freely? (eg. not a lot of furniture limiting children’s movement)

iv. Are there soft areas in the classroom? (Beanbags, pillows, rugs, etc.)

v. Is their sufficient lighting and ventilation? (Natural light controlled by blinds, air condition, etc.)

vi. Are there windows for children to see out of?

vii. Are learning centers/areas organized for independent use by children? (What are the learning areas? Also, are shelves and containers labeled and accessible to children?)

viii. What types of displays are posted on the walls?

D. Draw a diagram of one classroom. Label the areas and list types of materials included in each area.

E. Locate the classroom schedule (should be located somewhere in the classroom possibly on the wall) and write it down.

III. Interactions

a) Observe children and write down what they are doing.

i. How are the children engaged with each other? Describe what Parten’s types of play you are observing (onlooker, parallel, associative, cooperative play, or dramatic) pgs 344-346. (Give an example.)

ii. What type of activities are children engaged in? (Give an example.)

iii. Are the activities developmentally age appropriate? (Give an example.)

b) Observe the teacher and write down what she/he is doing.

i. Does the teacher communicate with children at the child’s

eye-level? (Give an example.)

ii. Does the teacher ask open-ended questions? (Give an example.)

iii. Does the teacher seem to enjoy being with the children?

(Give an example.)

iv. What techniques does the classroom teacher use to motivate children to do things? (Give an example.)

c) Are there any volunteers in the classroom? Describe their interactions with children. (Give an example.)

IV. Discipline

a) What is the program/center’s discipline policy?

b) Does staff actively involve children in solving their conflicts and problems? (Give an example)

c) Give an example of a discipline situation you observed while at the center and explain the steps the teacher took to assist the child/children with the situation.

d) Are there many opportunities for the children on this site to be nurtured and filled to the bream with cultural studies? (Give an example.)

V. What is your overall impression of the classroom and the classroom staff? (Please TYPE a one page summary on a separate sheet of paper and attach to this form.)

B-

Find and choose an Elizabethan style sonnet.  This sonnet will be the source for assignments over the next three weeks and will be your final interpretive piece. 

Look up all questionable or unfamiliar words to identify their meaning at the time they were written. 

Submit the definitions. 

Paraphrase each line/thought of the sonnet with modern language. ( I am defining thought or line as identified by ending punctuation . ! : ?) If there is no punctuation at the end of the line on the page - that is your clue to continue the thought to the ending punctuation.

This could be a Shakespearean sonnet or any more modern following the same poetic pattern.