Date completed: Fall 2016

Date submitted: Spring 2017

Title of Artifact: Observation #2- Planning
Standard: Standard Two- Learning Differences

I am placing my artifact Observation #2, Planning, under Standard Two, Learning Differences, as
evidence of continued mastery towards each learner reaching high standards in the classroom.
Teachers create lesson plans around their students and make them developmentally appropriate.
In the recommendations part of this observation I stated that the teacher should allow the
students participate in making the lesson plans in the weeks to come. This recommendation will
allow the students to engage in learning activities that are different for each students growth and
development.
I. Observation 2
Kindergarten Enrichment (KE) classroom at All Day Learning Centers
II. Grade
Kindergarten Enrichment
III. Students
11 boys and 15 girls
IV. Setting
Kindergarten Enrichment (KE) classroom at All Day Learning Centers
Multi-Age classroom (5 and 6 year olds), 26 students, 1 lead teacher, 1 teachers
assistants (2 teachers assistants if needed)
Ratio is 1 to 15 (1 teacher per 15 students)
V. Pre-observation
The purpose of this observation is to see how the teacher creates lesson plans for their
classroom. I am also looking at different ways the teacher could prep the lessons. From
this observation I am looking at ways I can create lesson plans like how the
Kindergarten Enrichment teacher is doing. To prepare for observation 2, I read the
article titled, 37 Ways Teachers Can Use Pinterest In The Classroom. This article
talks about different ways that the app Pinterest can be used. As I was talking to the
Kindergarten teacher, she kept mentioning using Pinterest. I know as a college student
and making lesson plans, Pinterest is my go to tool to help me think of ideas. I think
that this app is extremely useful and can give you any activity for any subject. I would
definitely recommend that teachers who struggle with being creating and coming up
with their own activities to use this app. Not only can you type it in on Google and it
will pop up but you can also download the app onto your smartphone and have access
to it there.
VI. Data
While doing this observation, I noticed that the kindergarten teacher and I had a lot of
the same strategies on how to make lesson plans. The format of these plans are
different than I know how to make them but they both have the same idea behind
them. The teacher gave me one of her lesson plans for this observation. The teachers
have a theme for each week so the week she gave me was for our welcome week,
which is the first day and week of school. Since there are so many children in her
classroom, both teachers have to split up in groups and teach different things and then
switch so every child is able to be in each setting. The assistant teacher usually takes a
group into another room to do her activity. Circle time is done in the main classroom
where all the children are present. Group 1 consists of language arts, literacy, and pre-
writing skills. Group 2 consists of science, math, social studies, and life skills. The
lead teacher, Miss Erica S, makes different plans for each group. There is also a book
listed for each day relating to the theme of the week. In each lesson plan for each day
there is a standard that is bolded that will be covered when this lesson is done. After
the main subjects are done in the morning, the lesson plan moves onto music and
movement, and an activity for the afternoon. The lesson plans are completed weekly.
When doing the lesson plans the teacher makes plans for the whole week. They are
usually given time out of their classroom to make the lessons and when there is extra
time the teachers move onto the following week to get a head start. We have a head
teacher at our facility, Miss Angie, who reviews all the lesson plans and says what is
great and what could use some work on. She is a great help because she is there when
the teachers are stumped or just need a little extra help with some lessons. On the next
page there is the copy of the welcome week lesson plan that the kindergarten teacher
had given me so that I could use for this observation.
VII. Analysis
While observing how the teacher of the kindergarten room plans her lesson, I learned
that we have the same ideas when it comes to the activities. We both love to use
Pinterest, which I think that every teacher should use.
VIII. Recommendations
The only thing that I would recommend to the teacher is that maybe she could get the
children involved with making the lesson plans. She could tell them what the theme of
the week is and let them start thinking of ideas of what they would like to do for that
week. She could pick out a bunch of activities for that theme and put them in a jar and
let the children pick what the activity will be for the day. In this classroom there are
jobs for specific children and the get changed every week. For that week, the one
student could be the one who picks the activity. Then the next week it will be someone
else picking.
IX. Post-observation
I love the daycare that I am working and doing these observations allows me to pay
even more attention to the children in their classroom. I am considered a floater, which
means I dont have a specific room that I am in all day. I am able to see what goes on
in all the classrooms and I get to know all of the children. Although I would like to
have a set classroom, knowing all of the children in the school is pretty awesome
rather than just in one class. All of the children know who I am so not only can I
observe them, I can also teach them something. They look up to me as one of their
teachers and I will be there to help them with whatever it is they need. I am so happy
to have the opportunity to work in such a great daycare that allows me to not only
work there but also observe each classroom in order to get my schoolwork done.
X. Citations
H. (2016). 37 Ways Teachers Can Use Pinterest In The Classroom. Retrieved October
10, 2016, from http://www.teachthought.com/the-future-of-
learning/technology/37-ways-teachers-can-use-pinterest-in-the-classroom/