Kirsten Blomster

Field Experience Multi Culture Setting

ECHD

4/9//2017

Observation 3
 I. Observation 3:
Planning

II. Grade:
Kindergarten

III. Students:
9 girls, 9 boys

IV. Setting:
Lamonte Annex, Bound Brook NJ
Multi-Age (5-6 years old) classroom, 18 students, 1 head teacher.

V. Pre Observation
I conducted this observation to analyze the planning in an early childhood
education classroom. I also planned to identify any improvements that could be
made. I selected a kindergarten class from the Lamonte Annex, an elementary
school in Bound Brook, NJ. I set aside a three-hour block to use to observe and
form a running record. To better prepare myself for this observation, I conducted
some research about how to plan for a lesson in an early childhood education
classroom.

VI. Data:
Observations were conducted on March 22, 2017.
The teacher plans all of her lessons week by week, and makes them more
specific on the day before the lesson takes place
She writes out a formal lesson plan on a piece of lined paper
She plans a wide variety of activities and busy work
She gets them up and moving just as much as she has them sitting working
at their tables
She plans to accommodate all skill levels in the classroom
She has activity and lesson sticks on hand in a cup so that she can quickly
find something to do with the kids in case her lesson ends up being too
short
She plans for the entire year by having them do projects that will progress
with time and other projects that they will do in both the beginning and the
end of the year to show their progress
She has a cup with popsicle sticks with each of the students names on it
so that she can efficiently and fairly choose a student to do something (e.g.
be the line leader for the day, pass out papers, etc.)
She switches up between activities fast, so that the children arent doing
one thing too long and therefore they dont get bored or restless
She plans for the kids being restless and uneasy by getting them up and
moving to music
 She takes the kids on mini-adventures around the school with integrated
lessons. This keeps them interested in learning and motivated to learn
She plans for student missing mom or dad or home by having comforting
stuffed animals and quiet places to sit
She plans for the day by wearing sneakers and getting good rest
Every summer, she plans a broad roadmap of the year to prepare herself
and make it the best year she can
She has jackets on deck in case one of the students forgot one and is cold
She keeps carpet and circle time short and sweet and full of action
She plans routines and has the kids learn them too
o She teaches these routines in fun ways
o She has songs for cleaning up, lining up, sitting down, becoming
quiet, and so many more
She aids in the kids making friends
She has the mini-library stocked with childrens books
She sets up reading buddies ahead of time so in case one student is having
trouble sounding out words they can help each other
She plans her lessons well and incorporates many different subject matters
into one lesson
She tracks all the words they learn with a sight word wall
She counts the days of the year and the students celebrate when they reach
day 100
She has the classroom organized well
She uses music in applied situations which helps information to stick
She has a box with subs name on hand in case she cant make it to school
She teaches kids how to listen well in the beginning of the year so she has
an easier time teaching them the rest of the year
She plans for lots of time to play, which is imperative in a kindergarten
classroom

VII. Analysis:
The teacher in this classroom exhibits amazing planning techniques. She is
prepared for every situation and is ready to tackle anything that comes her way.
She plans so that the students are always intrinsically motivated to learn and
always have fun learning. She keeps them active so they dont get fidgety. She has
them excited for each and every day. She is ready with a list of substitute teachers
in the event that she needs to call out. Having a list of the words that they have
learned on the wall helps students remember them. She comes in each day ready
to teach to a variety of skill levels. She is prepared to aid in each and every one of
the students growth.

VIII. Recommendations:
 I think that the teacher demonstrates amazing planning skills. She is ready for
anything and has her whole year roughly planned out from before the first day of
school. Then she also has plans for each week that she specifies the day before the
actual lesson. There really is not too much to recommend in this situation. The
only thing that I could say would be not having her lesson plans scribbled on lined
paper but rather have them typed up. She sometimes has had trouble reading her
own writing and it delays class.

IX. Post Observation:

This observation went well. The planning in the classroom was stellar, and I have
learned so much about what I can do as a teacher. My research suggested many of
the techniques that she already uses. She is prepared and ready for any obstacle,
and prepares so well that she even prevents obstacles from occurring.

X. Citations:
50 Tips, Tricks and Ideas for Teaching Kindergarten - WeAreTeachers.
(n.d.). Retrieved April 9, 2017, from https://www.weareteachers.com/50-tips-
tricks-and-ideas-for-teaching-kindergarten/