Learning Observation

I did my learning observation in a universal Pre-K classroom at Salmon

River Central School this is a half day program. The morning class starts at
8:00a.m and ends at 11a.m, the afternoon class starts at 11:00a.m and ends
at 2:20p.m. I spent two hours in this classroom and learned a lot about the
universal program. The age groups of these children are 3 and 4 years, with
some going to be turning 5 soon. There were fourteen children and two
adults in the room at all times.
When I walked into the classroom I noticed that it was well organized,
very colorful and full of activities. It made me feel very welcome because
things were very open. You could tell right way that the teachers thought a
lot of the children, parents and the community. Center activities were all
labeled with pictures on the bins, in which all the shelving are at the level of
the children. There is also a loft for the children to play on. Children set at
tables with a group of 3 or 4. They each had their own cubbies; above their
cubbies are pictures of children with their parents. There was an All about
Me wall. Each child gets the opportunity to share special things about
themselves. They are able to be very creative with this activity and the
parents are involved. They have a smart board that is used on a daily bases.
The teacher uses it for calendar time and with all learning activities. The
daily lesson plans are posted in the back of the room along with all activity
supplies. The daily schedule is posted for specials such as music, library, art,
and technology. There is a wall behind the door that has a list of important

information such as a bus list, a binder with phone numbers and certain
information about the
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children and a pocket chart full of Dr. Jeans cds. I found this classroom to be
very child centered.
As I was doing my observation the children had center time for 45
minutes. The children were put into groups of 3 and 4 to work at certain
centers. During this time children were using there fine motor skills as well
as their socialization skills. They had four centers set up for the children to
work at. While I was observing each group I realized that were using their
physical motor development, social emotional development, along with their
creative development. The children were very interested in what they were
doing in their centers, along with being creative. If a problem aroused with
another student, that student would use nice words to let the other student
no that they did not like that or to stop bothering them. If the problem
continued then the teachers would intervene and help out with the situation.
The teachers were very busy with children threw out center time. They
helping the children that need attention and helping the ones that were
struggling with certain activities. Both teachers always made themselves
available no matter what the kids needed. No task was too big or too little for
them. All the children were treated equally by both teachers. I found this to

be important because children are unique and teachers need to be aware if a

student is struggling with particular learning activities. After center time the
children learned the letter N by writing the letter, reading a book and doing a
mini activity.

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After observing the centers there are a few things that I would change.
I would allow the children to have more free play rather than being in one
center for 45 minutes. I would like to have a nature center with sand and
water, so that the children can be creative and learn what animals live in and
out of water. After center time I would like to have each student tell the d
class what and why they did things in there center and maybe see what they
learned during that center, I would definitely let them be very creative with
this activity.
I was very impressed how the classroom was so well organized.
Lesson plans and daily activities were posted so everyone knew what was
going on. The teachers had amazing classroom management skills with their
students. The children were eager to learn new things and were so happy to
be in school. The other thing that I found to be interesting was the Dr. Jean
songs that the teachers used. The songs were so fun and the children really
interacted especially with Tooty ta. I definitely want to invest in the Dr. Jean

collection. The Universal Pre-K is beneficial to children because the state

wants them to learn so much at young age. The Pre-K is a very busy
classroom. Sometimes the children do the planning because it depends on
how long an activity may take, the teachers do not rush the children they
work at their own pace. As a Pre-K teacher you must have lots of patience
and creative. The children have sharing day where one child each day brings
in an item from home that starts with that particular letter that they are
learning that week. That way they learn more about that letter. Today a
student brought in a paper jam guitar for sharing because they were learning
the letter N which has a noisy nose. It may have not started with N but it
makes lots of noise, the child was creative with coming up a different way of
learning the letter N.

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If I was a teacher in this classroom, I would have to be creative
because children like to use their imagination. Children need to learn by
hands on experience and free play. As a teacher you have to make the
children first priority because children need a lot of attention. No problem is
too big or too little to handle in a pre-k classroom. As a teacher I would have
to find what interest the children because you dont want them to be bored
with what they are learning.

As a child in this classroom, I would be content because the

atmosphere is warm and the teachers are very open-mind. There is lot of
activities that I could be creative with. I am able to be myself. Also as a child
I would be able to meet new friends and share things that I am interested in.
I can play with new things and learn different activities.
As a parent, I would feel very comfortable with my child being in this
classroom because they are allow to be involved with their childs learning
environment. I am able to have great communication with teachers if
something comes about with my child. This is very important for a parent to
have with the teachers because your child may have issues and you want to
have communication so that your child gets the help he/she needs. The
teachers allow the child to be themselves. I am able to have insight with
what is going on threw out the week.
This universal Pre-K is based on different philosophers theories. I feel
that it is based on Montessoris theory because the classroom was a
prepared environment. The room was child centered with furnishings and
equipment that was age appropriate and at the level of the
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children. The teachers have a self-pace teaching method because it really

depends on the day and how the children learn the activity or lesson that is
being taught that day. Some lessons may not get done because another
lesson took longer than expected. Along with Montessori, this pre-K class is

also based on Friedrich Froebel because this classroom is centered on selfactivities that interest the children. The teachers focus is on the
developments of the childrens self-esteem and self-confidence in what they
are learning and how they handle new situations. The teachers also follow
the theory of letting the children play as a way of learning. The children were
able to play with blocks, toys such as Legos, kitchen sets, and puppets. I
found this to be interesting because when you add different theories you can
be more creative with were classroom.
This Universal Pre-K program is supported by the development of the
whole child by allowing the children to have physical development which is
appropriate for the children. The teachers understand that each child is
unique. The teachers uses the six developmental areas of the socialemotional, language, physical-motor, creative and cognitive developments
when they are teaching and along when the children are in their center
activities. All of these developments were used throughout time I was there.
Not only at center time but when the teacher was reading a story, she
interacted with the children. During songs she would have them up dancing
and moving around instead of sitting on the rug and just listening.
The Universal Pre-K that is established at the Salmon River school
district is granted through New York State. They have to reapply for the grant
every three years. The grant covers

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the childrens breakfast and lunch along with any field trips that the class
may take. It also covers the lead teacher and aides pay. What the grant does
not pay for the school system covers the rest. Also the Universal Pre-K uses
hand writing without tears program along with the letter people program.
These programs are based on helping the children work on their
handwriting and it makes it fun for the children to write. They also use
wooden sticks to make the letter and have songs to go along with making
the letters. The letter people program helps the children learn the letters of
the alphabet with fun activities and songs. I find the letter people to very fun
to use and the children seemed to really enjoy it. The teachers make sure
that each activity, lesson and centers are appropriate for their age group.
After reviewing my notes and setting in on a Pre-K classroom I learned
a lot that you really have to be focused and ready for anything. I like
challenges and working with young children that I could see myself working
in this type of program when I graduate. You can be so creative and silly
while teaching young children. There are some things that I would do
different but there are some things I would keep the same. For instance I
would allow the children to have a little more free play and different age
appropriate activities. She had great center activities; I just feel that I would
more interactive centers. The way the classroom is set up is amazingly

organized and this important along with having age appropriate activities. I
now have a better understanding of what goes on in pre-k classroom. There
is definitely more to being a pre-k teacher then I thought.