This week I observed the children in the morning as they were active indoors and outdoors. They were making jewelry with beads for their parents, dancing and singing to the songs on the cd, singing individually and as a group with the song cards, running around playing with paper made swords, puzzles, legos and counting cards with clips at the tables, reading and listening at circle time and also asking and answering questions about the book titled, "The Doorbell Rang." The children seemed to enjoy themselves as they had many choices to choose from throughout the day. I also liked that during snack and lunch the meals were nutritious and although the children had not preferred a particular item the teachers served small portions and encouraged them to at least taste it. They also reminded the children how to be polite at the table while eating by asking, "Do you mean not thank you?" The teachers also asked the children if they could be excused from the table after they finished eating.
During outdoor exploration three girls dug a whole in the sand using their shevels at the sand and water area. The teacher rolled up her pants and put her bare feet in the whole. She said to the children who were just observing , "Their digging me a whole to do me a pedicure." The children proceeded by getting containers to fill them up with water and poured the water into the whole. A child from another class dumped sand in the whole and Aoife said, "No, don't we're putting water not sand," then the child stopped dumping sand. Another child, whois a boy sat down and put his feet in the whole also, then smiled at the teacher. They continued to pour water then the boy got up and went over to the water fountain and began to throw sand in one of the girls face. She started screaming loudly. The teacher got up from her chair went over and grabbed the boy and said, "Now you have no more minutes." The teacher took him away and told him to rinse his feet and began to talk to him about his actions. A student helper in another course took the girl to the restroom to clean her up after the teacher asked for her to.
The developmental skills the children were using were communication skills, problem solving, gross motor skills, cause and effect, team work and cognitive skills.
To further the development and interests of the children as a teacher I would have shevels, chairs, bowls and a table set up for manicures on the following day. Ask the children do they need other materials to add to this activity. Also share a book to read on hygiene and beauty. This activity will help develop the children's fine motor skills and emerge curriculum.
