Observation for Teaching
Context
The purpose of this assignment is to compare and contrast two observations in different contexts. The children in both contexts where aged 4-5. I chose children of the same age so that age would not affect the results. According to Jean Piaget children of this age children are in the Preoperational Stage (RAD, 2012)
I did not see any evidence to suggest that this was not the case. However I don’t think that all children reach the same stage of development at the same time, each case must be looked at individually. Tina Bruce (2001) discusses the stages of play and according to her descriptions I would say that the children I observed were in the cooperative stage. However, I do not feel that I have enough information about the children to make a true assessment of the stage of play because many factors affect observations and I believe the stages of play overlap and are revisited as children develop, as discussed by Jerome Bruner (Pound, 2006) in his spiral curriculum theory.
Observation A
I observed these children in a reception class in a local authority Primary School. There were 28 children in the class and came from a variety of socio, economic backgrounds, the children were aged 4-5 and of mixed gender. The observation was of a child initiated outdoor activity. The children made a ‘path’ using tyres, blocks and crates. The class teacher was in the playground but not interacting with this group of children. I was observing them but they were unaffected by my presence. This was because I constantly observe them; therefore it was nothing unusual to them.
Observation B
This observation was taken at a private ballet school; most of the children came from affluent areas in and around Halifax and were aged 4-5 and all female. This class was all adult focused and has a traditional ballet school feel. The principle is very strict; she does not tolerate talking in class to each other or their parents. They are able to ask questions but the teacher
The purpose of this assignment is to compare and contrast two observations in different contexts. The children in both contexts where aged 4-5. I chose children of the same age so that age would not affect the results. According to Jean Piaget children of this age children are in the Preoperational Stage (RAD, 2012)
I did not see any evidence to suggest that this was not the case. However I don’t think that all children reach the same stage of development at the same time, each case must be looked at individually. Tina Bruce (2001) discusses the stages of play and according to her descriptions I would say that the children I observed were in the cooperative stage. However, I do not feel that I have enough information about the children to make a true assessment of the stage of play because many factors affect observations and I believe the stages of play overlap and are revisited as children develop, as discussed by Jerome Bruner (Pound, 2006) in his spiral curriculum theory.
Observation A
I observed these children in a reception class in a local authority Primary School. There were 28 children in the class and came from a variety of socio, economic backgrounds, the children were aged 4-5 and of mixed gender. The observation was of a child initiated outdoor activity. The children made a ‘path’ using tyres, blocks and crates. The class teacher was in the playground but not interacting with this group of children. I was observing them but they were unaffected by my presence. This was because I constantly observe them; therefore it was nothing unusual to them.
Observation B
This observation was taken at a private ballet school; most of the children came from affluent areas in and around Halifax and were aged 4-5 and all female. This class was all adult focused and has a traditional ballet school feel. The principle is very strict; she does not tolerate talking in class to each other or their parents. They are able to ask questions but the teacher