Second Observation

5 days after the first observation, and this time the class climate was slightly different. It was afternoon instead of morning, many children had been pulled out for learning groups or work with specialists, and the teacher was actually away at the doctor's! The assistant teacher had children do free-play from 2-3pm. The students recently gave up nap time, which I would think would be exciting to the teacher to maximize instructional time, but that certainly was not the case today. I shouldn't be so judgmental, perhaps, because the circumstances were so different.

It was still beneficial to observe the children at play, because I realized how much these children of all different backgrounds, races, and interests love to be together and play in large groups. At one point, 9 students were all involved in a role-play about a family driving to Virginia Beach. They each had on colorful capes as costumes and had set up their chairs to be like the family van. They were really cute and very creative as they played house and role-played different family members.

The behavior management issue continues to counter what I've learned at Curry, because as children are pulled out for behavior, they remain in their seats for the entire class period, with a consequence unrelated to their misbehavior. Finally after 30 minutes the teacher's aid sat down next to one child to discuss his behavior with him. Several students have journals that are sent home to parents everyday with notes and anecdotal records of behavior. It was sad to me to return this semester and see the same children targeted, never being given a chance to break out of the cycle, in my opinion. I think it bothers me so much because this is Kindergarten, and I fear that these "problem children" will truly believe that that is what they are, right from the start, and stick to that attitude throughout school. I want to give them another chance! It's important to me that as a teacher I allow each child to really reach his potential.