Stefanie Gonzales

ECE 251

Spring 2014

Powerful Interaction Observation

Date: 4/7/17

School: Pinecrest Academy of Horizon

Teacher: Ms. Cook

Age of child: 7

Time: 12:30 p.m. 1:15 p.m.

Setting: Ms. Cooks classroom during an art activity titled 3D Hands. There were 20 students

and 1 adult. I observed several powerful interactions between teacher and student.

Interaction:

1. Observation: Ex 1: A student enters the class about 15 minutes late.

Ms. Cook: Take a seat my friend and I will help you get started after Im

done explaining to the class.

Student: (smiles and takes a seat) Thank you Ms. Cook.

Ex 2: When some students needed help with making the bridge part of the

3D Hand.

Student: I need help!

 Ms. Cook: How can I help you (child)?

Student: I cant do the bridge thingy, its to hard

Ms. Cook: (smiles and kneels beside students desk) Start here (she

points to a spot on the paper) straight line here (points and

traces invisible line) stop, bridge, stop, straight line, stop. Do

this all the way until you reach the tippy top of the finger

okay?

Student does what Ms. Cook says and smiles at his job well done.

Ms. Cook: Good job (child), I knew you could do it!

Student: (all smiles) Thank you Ms. Cook for your help.

2. Behaviors observed: Showing respect to her students (page 55). Ms. Cook constantly

used a warm, calm, and natural tone of voice with her class. When some students

were misbehaving she never once changed. Ms. Cook also displayed that she talks with

the children instead of at the children. It never seemed to me that the students were

less than her. Ms. Cook treated them as equals but still held authority with them. Ms.

Cook continuously showed an example of how to treat others by herself treating her

class that way. Examples are that she always says please and thank you to her

students. Another observation I had is how Ms. Cook made the students feel secure by

setting clear, realistic limits for behavior (pg 59). Ms. Cook addressed the students first

thing when they sat in her class of the expectations she had for her classroom along

with what will happen if they chose not to follow the rules. My favorite observation for

a powerful interaction was the extended learning Ms. Cook incorporated in the activity.
 (pg 76) She used mirror talk by talking about individuals artwork and how beautiful or

amazing she thought it was. If the piece was lacking color or lines that needed to be

there, Ms. Cook simply would suggest the student add this or that instead of stating it

was wrong the way it was and to make it right they have to add this. Ms. Cook also

solved problems together with her students. When a child needed help in making a

bridge on his 3D Hand, Ms. Cook asked questions to help the student achieve the end

goal instead of telling him exactly how to do it.

3. Behaviors included: I felt Ms. Cook lacked nothing in the powerful interaction category.

She is a prime example of a teacher for me. Everything I observe from her is material I

read from my ECE classes. Ms. Cook is very encouraging, hands on involved with her

students, compassionate, patient, respectful, and yet holds authority with her students.