Observation Module 2

• During my two weeks of observing and interacting with the teacher and assistant in the Pre-K class I notice how they were trying to engage with the parents the importance of literacy. In my paper I'm focusing on how to help promote literacy at home. I seen the teacher and assistant meeting together about fun ways to get parents involved in literacy at home. They came up with the reading log. It allows the students to pick a book and once they are read to they were to color in how they felt about the book. The feeling range from a happy face (like it), a straight face (it was o.k) or sad face (didn't like it). The teacher spoke with the parents about the library and enforced how important it was for them to sign off on it every night in order for the students to receive a new book. The parents and students were into it. When some of the students returned the log the assistant had a conversation with them about how they enjoyed reading the books. She briefly discussed what parts they like/disliked about the books. As the days were going by some of the children who didn't get their log sign was feeling upset because they wasn't able to get a new book. The assistant was kind in telling them how it was their responsibly to make sure that the book was being read and the parent signing off on it. 

• I learned that if you make reading fun and exciting that the children will like to read. Also, if you explain to the parents the significance of reading to their child they are willing to do the additional readings. I noticed that the parents too were getting into the readings telling the teacher how much they liked a particular book. One challenge I see is having those engaging conversation to parents that don't come to school. There are some parents who only show their faces when they register their kids in the beginning of the year. I would like to advocate how classrooms can get some incentives for those parents who take the necessary steps in furthering their child's literacy. Also, how to encourage parents to get more involve int their children's education. Maybe see more programs in school that help parents to build the gap of literacy through school and home.

Interview

I had the pleasure of interviewing two teachers. Jonnia is a master Pre-K teacher for 12 years. She's been in this school for 9 of those starting in the infant toddler program. The other teacher Jamela is a displaced teacher that came from a school which was a turnaround school. She has been a Kindergarten teacher for 4 years. They both had some interesting views of the POVERTY that affect our kids today.

• Insights gained from your interviews regarding current advocacy efforts and needs in your area of interest within the field of early childhood

       I learned that many of teachers advocate everyday for their students. They both name some of the same issues that affect young children in poverty. When Jamela talked about her students at the displaced school I learned that many of her students didn't know how to hold a pencil correctly or that they didn't know their names. Many of them only knew nick-names that family and friends called them. I learned that Jonnia thought that the lack of access to quality education and community resources also played a big part in the impact of Early Childhood. 

I also learned that when dealing with poverty it's not just what's happening around the neighborhood or the home but also the resources that the schools lack. Jamela stated that her other school they didn't have proper books, materials or anything that make a school run. She established after school for the children, leapfrog club, and differentiate instructions that's dedicated for each level. 

 

• How these interviews may have influenced your decision about which area of interest and topics to choose for your research paper

I knew that poverty played a big roll in how students learn and grow but I didn't think about the outcome of what happens when a school lack resources. I would like to look deeper into all the effects that a student has when not only living in poverty but what happens when their education is a product of that too. 

• Which area of interest you are thinking of focusing on for your paper as well as the related three specific topics

   I'm looking to look focusing on Poverty in a Early Childhood setting.  The related topic would be the children's environment, school, and health and outside resources (to help the cause). I believe that they all interrelated. I think if you deal with students with not enough resources in E.C maybe teachers in 3-8 wouldn't have to do as much. Starting at the beginning to help the build a stronger foundation. 

• Questions you have for your colleagues related to your area of interest and/or three topics

Beside the reason I included above are there any other factors that may be related to poverty in E.C?

Have you ever advocated for a cause? and if so where did you start to get your message heard?

Do you think children are products of their environment?

Hello!!!