Day 12

5/25/10

10:30-2:30

I arrived at ABC’s at 10:30 for my last day. When I arrived all of the children were having group snack. They all had their bathing suits on because today they got to go in the pool. The teachers attach the slide to the pool so it becomes a water slide. The children were so excited to get outside. During nap time I got a chance to sit on a parent teacher meeting. The meeting was very casual and simple because it was the mothers second child going into preschool. When it came time for me to leave it felt sad because I have really enjoyed spending time at ABC's. I said my good byes and left at 2:30.

Day 11

5/24/10

10:00-3:00

I arrived at ABC’s at 10:00. I took so many pictures of the children playing inside and outside. I could tell that some loved the camera and some didn’t really notice it. Today I didn't play as much as I normal do because of the photos I took. I really got great pictures of the children playing in areas which are used most mornings. It was so gorgeous today they were very tired after playing in the sun. A lot of the children were very tired from the weekend. Most of the kids that don’t usually sleep during nap time slept. During nap time I typed up the answers to my interview questions. So now they are completely done. I can't believe tomorrow is my last day. It seems like this experience has gone by way to fast, I have really enjoyed it. I left ABC's this afternoon at 3:00.

Week 2 Reflection

Weekly Reflection

Week 2

This week I got a better understanding about why teachers do certain activities. I also learned more about how they communicate with parents and what are their goals for the children at the end of the year. When I did potato stamps with the children, I really got to see the children use their imagination with how they create pictures. It is interesting to see them use the stamps because they don’t understand how to paint the stamp with the brush. But after showing them a couple of times, they understood it. I really enjoyed teaching the children. I like seeing how they understand something after trying it. Once they understand something, they get all happy; I love seeing that because I know how good it feels to accomplish something that at first, seemed difficult.

I was surprised with how some of the children acted this week. They seemed to be more sensitive. There was a lot more crying and being upset when they didn’t get their own way. The teachers took care of this by telling the children that they had to sit by themselves and stop crying in order to continue playing. Or, they were no longer allowed to play a game if they got upset with it. So they showed them something else to do so that it would redirect them to a more positive experience. I now know more about dealing with children with emotional situations. I haven’t had that much experience with children since I never got a chance to babysit. I now know how exhausting it is to deal with children for a day. I now have a lot of respect for teachers and stay at home moms; they need lots of patience to get through the day.

I feel like this week was very productive because I accomplished all my major goals for the week. In the last couple of days, I hope to take more pictures of the children at lunch time and when playing. In addition, I will work on my self- evaluation and get organized to put my tri-fold board together for the presentation on Thursday.

Day 10

5/21/10

9:00-3:00

I arrived at ABC’s at 9:00. I brought in my own show and tell. Since Star Wars is so big at ABC’s I brought in my brothers star wars book. They were all amazed by it. Their eyes opened up like if an adult just one the lottery. After morning activity we went to residence part of the hospital to sing for them. I could tell that the residence really appreciated seeing the children sing and dance. The children also had a lot of fun preforming. In the afternoon I got a chance to interview a teacher aide. I know have all of my interviews done. I left ABC’s at 3:00.

Day 9

5/20/10

9:00-3:00

I arrived at ABC’s today at 9:00 so I could do my arts project with the children. During morning meeting I explained how to do the project by painting the potato and pressing down hard on the paper to create the stamp. After show and tell I got to see the children use their imagination. I was so impressed with how the project turned out. It was a little challenging for them to press down on the stamp and to not create a picture by just using a brush. I took lots of pictures of the children using the stamps. I also got pictures of them playing in the classroom and outside at the playground. I left ABC’s at 3:00

Day 8

5/19/10

11:30-5:30

My day started at 11:30. When I arrived the children were watching a movie since it was raining all morning. They only watch movies when it goes with the theme they are learning about. They were watching Homeward Bound. It goes along with what they are studying somewhat which is recycling and ecology. During nap time I final got to practice my potato stamp project. I made shapes using cookie cutters and just cutting them out. I created 3 of each: heart, leaf, square, circle, and triangle. I made a lot so they could use more colors in their pictures. I practiced making 2 pictures and they turned out better then I thought they would. I made a scene of a neighborhood and a scene where a butterfly is sitting on a pile of leaves. I'm so excited to see the children make their own pictures! Also most of the photo requests were returned and they are all approved which I'm thankful for. I left ABC’s at 5:30.

Day 7

5/18/10

11:30-5:30

I arrived at 11:30 again. My goal today was to interview one of the teachers and make all the stamps for my project. I did get to interview a teacher which was very helpful. I now understand more about why they do certain activities at preschool. I also got to make a couple stamps for my art project until I cut myself. I was trying to cut a potato in half but the knife slipped and cut my finger right on the cuticle. It wouldn’t stop bleeding so the teacher told me to go see my sponsor since she has nursing experience. She bandaged my cut by wrapping it tightly and told me to hold it up above my shoulder for awhile. After the bleeding went down somewhat another teacher helped me change it into a normal band-aid. The children kept on asking me what I did over and over again. Before we went outside my sponsor got a nurse to check out my cut. She said it was going to be fine I just had to keep it clean. My sponsor also had to report that I cut myself. My finger just hurt for the rest of the day. But once I started playing outside I forgot about it because I was having so much fun. I left ABC’s at 5:30.

Day 6

5/17/10

11:30-5:30

I arrived at ABC’s today at 11:30. I thought it would be a good experience to see what happens in the afternoon. By the end of the day its relaxing since children are waking up. They then play games, eat snack, and go to the bathroom. Once that is all taken care of they get to go outside again. They get to play outside for about an hour and half. During this time parents pick up the child/children. If a child still hasn’t gotten picked up after the hour and half they go back inside and play. All of the children are gone by 5:30. During nap time I practiced making potato stamps. Its actually a lot hard then it looks. I found directions online but I’m going to adjust them so they are easier to make. I left ABC’s at 5:30.

Week 1 Reflection

Weekly Reflection

Week 1

By the end of the week I learned so much. I have observed the teachers and the children. I know the schedule very well. I also know a little about how children act and think. They want to do what they want to do and when they don’t get their own way they cry about it to get attention or what they want. In the end they never get what they want or the attention. I have also noticed how boys and girls interact with one another. They’re more likely to play with each other inside then outside. When they are outside the boys like to play games that always have a winner while the girls are playing house. It’s a great way to see how the brains are different from each other.

The teachers are very encouraging when it comes do dealing with preschoolers. They are always wanting to let the children know that they are good at something or did something right. They are also good with discipline by talking to the children just like you would talk to an older child.

I have really enjoy my senior project so far. I have never spent time with children before. I find it interesting how children act at this age and what their needs are. I was asked to do certain activities so I could have an understanding of what happens at ABC’s. I played with children, washed dishes, and read stories because those are some of the activities the teachers do. I was expected to see the children playing all the time. I was surprised to see the Pre-K children actually learning by using work sheets. I was also surprised with how the teachers discipline the children. They are calm and tell the children that they did was wrong. My one week of activities will benefit me because now I just need to focus on my interview questions and my art project. The activities helped me to develop the interview questions. They have also shown me what art projects are not too challenging for a preschoolers. I’m excited for week two to start.

Day 5

5/14/10

8:00-1:00

I arrived at 8:00. This morning the children were reading, playing puzzles, drawing, and playing ants in the dogs pants. At show and tell today the children brought in cars, blankets, and books. It was a boys 4th birthday. He brought in a cake that looked like the ocean with all different sea creatures on it. We had a group snack instead of individual. After snack I washed the dishes and we then had circle time. At circle we sang more about dinosaurs. Since it was a cloudy day we didn’t spend that much time playing outside as we usually do. I have noticed that a lot of children cry when they don’t get there own way and when another child hit them on purpose or accident. But after letting them cry for about 5 minutes if it isn’t a big deal they are fine. It’s like nothing ever happened. I have come to the conclusion that they only do this so they get attention and what they want. In the end it doesn’t work out for them. At the end of the day I washed the dishes from lunch and made copies of my photo request for the parents. I left ABC’s at 1:00.

Day 4

5/13/10

8:00-3:00

My day started at 8:00. Instead of playing with puzzles this morning we played a game called ants in the dogs pants. The goal of the game is to flick plastic ants and get then into the plastic dogs pants. Who every gets rid of their ants first wins. But at this age I have noticed rules don’t matter. All they wanted was the color of the ants and trying to get them into the pants was a big enough challenge. At the end of morning meeting we had show and tell. Half of the children go Thursday and the other half go Friday. Children brought in dolls, books, robots, and blankets. When we went outside I really got to observe how the children play. The boys and the girls don’t really play together. The boys are always wanting to play games where there is always a winner. Unlike the girls who like to play house. But they do play with each other in the sand box or playing games where they are getting chanced. During their nap time I got my photo request proof read by my sponsor. I then changed the errors and typed up my interview questions. I also got a chance to look at a preschool art project book. It was full of different ideas. But I’m still going try and see if my potato stamp project will work. I left ABC’s at 3:00 once again.

Day 3

5/12/10

8:00-3:00

My day started at 8:00 again. This afternoon I did some of the activities that the teachers do. At lunch time I helped open snacks and poured drinks for the children. Most of the snacks they bring are to hard for them to open. For drinks they either have a choice of milk or water. Most of the children choose milk. At the end of lunch I washed the dishes. Since the children don’t bring drinks or utensils. Once the dishes were done the tables get wiped the chairs go on the table to create more space for nape time. I then colored with some of the children before story time. I picked out books that would go with what they are learning about which are trees. While reading to them they all wanted to get as close as they could to see the book. They were told it was wrong because children in the back wouldn’t be able to see. During nap time I came up with more questions for interviewing the teachers. I also finished up my request letter to take pictures of the children for when I present my project at the exhibit. All it needs now is to be proof read. I left at 3:00 again. I now have a better understanding of what the teachers do during and after lunch time.

Day 2

5/11/10

8:00-3:00

When I mentioned Circle yesterday it is actually called Morning Meeting. Circle is when they learn by dancing, singing, and hand play. Today I arrived at 8:00 and spent more time observing the children and teachers. I have realized that children are different but have the same needs. They love attention from a new person added to the class. They all love attention but show it in different ways. They might touch you, repeat your name, talk a lot, want you to help with something, and play with them. The highlights of my day was when I played hockey and cars. Outside when we play hockey all of the children get so excited and giggly. It's funny how they will think of ways to block the goal with their body. It is also interesting to see how they play together. I also really enjoyed playing cars. We created courses for the cars by building jumps and requiring the cars to do back flips. During my lunch I brainstormed questions for when I interview the teachers. My day ended at 3:00, I had another enjoyable day at ABC’s.

Day 1

5/10/10

8:00-3:00

I arrived at ABC's Child Care Center at 8:00. Some of the children had arrived but more were coming. I then began drawing and doing puzzles with some of the children. Once everyone arrived we had Circle. I then was introduce to everybody. During Circle the children learn what day it is and what the weather is like. They learn this by singing. Then the children get to choose their morning activities. Such as snack, computer, blocks, and arts+crafts. Next the children get to go outside where they play on the play ground. Outside I helped children on the monkey bars and played hockey. Then it was time for lunch! During lunch each child has to eat two healthy choice so they can get their fruits, veggies, and protein. We then had story time to get everyone ready for nap time. Once nap time began music is played and certain children get their backs rubbed. At the end of nap time the pre-k children get to do worksheets to help them work on matching and counting. All the children started to get up. During this time before they go outside again they have free time or their afternoon activity. By then it was time for me to leave 3:00. I really enjoyed meeting the children today.