Read
the Wing Article: Play is Not the Work of the Child and the
Rhedding-Jones Article: Questioning Play and Work, Early Childhood, and
Pedagogy (both available under Course Documents on Blackboard).Obtain permission and observe a small group
of children at any learning center in a preschool, kindergarten or first grade
classroom.Write an observation report
(minimum 5 pages, not to exceed 10 pages) that summarizes the observation and
contains the following components:
·
Identifying Information – school,
date, grade level, approximate ages of children served
·
Purpose of Observation
·
Description of learning
center/area including all activities in which children are engaged
·
Student Interview – ask students
participating in the activity/area observed if they view what they are doing as
work or play.Be certain to ask
additional follow up questions to clarify the children’s explanations as
necessary and include quotes.
·
Teacher Interview – ask the
teacher about the learning center/area and its goals/objectives and whether
s/he perceives the activities/experiences in that center as work or play.Be certain to ask follow up questions to
clarify the teacher’s explanations as necessary and include quotes.
·
Summary Interpretation of the
student and teacher interviews, relating them to the readings by Wing and
Rhedding-Jones.
·
Include your raw data with your
observation report.
·
Please use students’ initials
(e.g., LR, not Leigh Rohde) when referencing a child in the observation.
Meets NH Department of Education standards:
610.02(h); XXXXXXXXXXa); XXXXXXXXXXb); XXXXXXXXXXb)(1)(a); XXXXXXXXXXb)(5)(b)(1)