Study days
Carmen Robinson
Wednesday, May 17, 2006
As Carmen Robinson progresses through her NVQ 3 in Children's Care, Learning and Development, she explains how she has applied theories of observation to life in the nursery There have been no meetings at college during April and I have spent my time trying to familiarise myself with observing the children in my classroom, to gain an objective view for recording information.
There have been no meetings at college during April and I have spent my time trying to familiarise myself with observing the children in my classroom, to gain an objective view for recording information.
The purpose of the recording is to concentrate on what I have seen without making any assumptions. I've known the children in my class for almost a whole year, but that does not change the fact that their achievements and successes have continually been transformed.
I have also been involved in planning lessons around the half term project that we want the children to experience and learn about.
The main topics are Superheroes, David and Goliath, Cinderella, The Good Samaritan and Gingerbread Man. The role play areas include a space station, Cinderella's house and the bakery. In addition to these planning activities we have a visit from the Peter Rabbit Society and the Monkey Music Group.
Within the six areas of learning we have created specific goals. These include:
* Showing an interest in why things happen and how they work
* Gaining awareness of the cultures and beliefs of others
* Combining and repeating a range of movements and encouraging children to observe the effects on their bodies
* Making up simple songs and making pictures using shapes
* Counting with some numbers in correct order and counting up to six objects in a larger group
* Taking an interest in and caring for books For a particular observation for my NVQ I chose the care of books. I set up a library area within the classroom with a few simple materials, including library helper stickers and sticky tape. My learning intentions were to teach skills about how to handle books and to look at the children's response.
One of my observations centred on a bilingual little boy who was very enthusiastic about books and was very excited and keen to come in the library area. My observations revealed him to be self-motivated with a good understanding about books, and he was very expressive in his conversation.
Overall the observations went very well and I was able to record my findings. Most of the children showed they knew how to care for books.
