Name & address of observation location:

Tucker Center
107 S Pennsylvania St
Marion, IN, 46952
Date of observation:
cto!er 29, 201"
Age group of classroom:
"#5 year ol$s % T&ere 'ere a total o( 6 c&il$ren, all o( '&ic& 'ere in so)e 'ay a
s*ecial nee$s c&il$+ T&e classroo) 'as )eant (or s*ecial nee$s c&il$ren+
General Classroom description:
Describe the classroom. What does it look like? Number of indos!doors?
What furniture is included? What is the classroom atmosphere?
T&e classroo) !ase$ u*on or,ani-ation is .uite s)all+ T&ere are t'o lar,e
'in$o's to t&e le(t 'all o( t&e roo) '&en 'alkin, into t&e classroo)+ T&e 'in$o's
&ave !lin$s on t&e) t&at are le(t $o'n, coverin, t&e sunli,&t+ T&ere is a $oor 'it&
a lar,e 'in$o' in it to'ar$ t&e le(t o( t&e lar,e 'in$o's+ To t&e le(t o( t&e $oor
on t&e sa)e 'all is a '&ite!oar$ 'it& not&in, 'ritten on it+ T&ere are letters o(
t&e al*&a!et *oste$ to t&e to* o( t&e '&ite !oar$+ To t&e le(t o( t&e '&ite !oar$,
on t&e ne/t 'all, t&ere is a clock u* at t&e to* o( t&e 'all+ T&ere is a c&alk !oar$
t&at is !lank+
Ne/t to t&e '&ite !oar$ on t&e (loor t&ere is a lar,e ru, ri))e$ 'it& t&e
letters o( t&e al*&a!et+ It is a !ri,&t !lue car*et+ Sittin, on t&e car*et is an
assistant an$ one c&il$+ To,et&er t&ey are 'orkin, on a ta!let+ T&e ta!let is
soun$in, out letters o( t&e al*&a!et+
T&ere is a s)all 'ritin, center in '&ic& a s)all $esk is a,ainst t&e 'all (acin,
len,t&'ays out'ar$ to'ar$ t&e classroo)+ n to* t&e $esk t&ere are a (e'
)aterials suc& as (las& car$s, 'ritin, stri*s, crayons, *encils, colore$ *encils, an$
)arkers+ T&ere are also )aterials suc& as ,lue, sa(ety scissors, *a*er, an$
construction *a*er+
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Ne/t to t&e 'ritin, area is t&e $ra)atic *lay area+ T&ere is a tall, t&in
closet se*aratin, t&e t'o areas+ n to* o( t&e closet are t'o clear tu!s o(
$ra)atic *lay clot&es+ In t&e *lay area t&ere is a kitc&en set *rovi$in, *lay toys
suc& as (ake (oo$ an$ (ake *lay ani)als+
n t&e o**osin, 'all t&ere is t&e sanitary area+ T&ere is a sink an$ counter#
to* 'it& t&e c&il$ren0s lunc& !o/es an$ ot&er t&in,s suc& as soa* an$ *a*er to'els+
T&ere are t'o s)all, circular ta!les 'it& c&airs aroun$ t&e)+ T&e ta!les are !lue
an$ yello'+ 1y t&e sink area t&ere is a 'ater ta!le+ In t&e ta!le t&ere are (oa)
letters, cu*s, !o'ls, an$ !locks+
In t&e corner t&ere is a !ook s&el( stu((e$ 'it& !ooks+ T&ey $o not look
'ell#ke*t !ut rat&er stu((e$ into t&e s&elves+ n one o( t&e 'alls are t&e cu!!ies
'&ere t&e c&il$ren &ave t&eir coats, !a,s an$ ot&er !elon,in,s+ n to* o( t&e
cu!!ies are tu!s an$ tu!s o( !ooks an$ su**lies (ro) '&at I 'as a!le to see+ n
)uc& o( t&e 'alls, ot&er t&an t&ose 'it& t&e 'in$o's an$ c&alk2'&ite !oar$s,
t&ere are )any *osters an$ *ictures+
What learning centers are included? "o inviting are the learning centers?
Addressing each learning center individuall#$ hat literac# materials are
included in each? "o has print literac# been incorporated into each learning
center.
T&e 'ritin, area is .uite )essy+ 3it&in t&e area t&ere are )aterials suc& as
*a*er, 'ritin, stri*s o( *a*er, crayons, )arkers, colore$ *encils, *encils, *ens, ,lue,
an$ sa(ety scissors+ T&ere is a s)all $esk an$ c&air (or one c&il$ to sit at an$
*ractice t&eir 'ritin,+ T&is area is not very invitin, as it is .uite unor,ani-e$ an$
*ro)otes no 4co)e look at )y (un literacy )aterials5 a**eal (or t&e c&il$ren+
In t&e $ra)atic *lay area t&ere is one kitc&en settin, 'it& (e' (ake (oo$
ite)s an$ (e' stu((e$ ani)als+ T&e $ra)atic *lay clot&es are stu((e$ into clear
tu!s t&at are on to* o( t&e stora,e closet+ T&ere is not )uc& entice)ent &ere
eit&er+ C&il$ren &ave no access to t&eir i)a,inary *lay as it is store$ on to* o( t&e
closet t&ey &ave no access to 'it&out an a$ult+
T&e 'ater ta!le see)e$ a little interestin,+ It &a$ 'ater insi$e6 &o'ever,
t&ere 'ere a lot o( toys insi$e inclu$in, !locks, !o'ls, (oa) letters, an$ cu*s+ I( it
'ere cleane$ u* a !it, it )ay a**eal to )ore c&il$ren+
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T&e !ook area 'as also an unor,ani-e$ area+ T&ere 'as one little s&el( o(
!ooks t&at 'ere kin$ o( stu((e$ insi$e+ Not )any c&il$ren 'ere runnin, to *ick u* a
!ook+ T&e !ooks looke$ a little 'orn an$ torn rat&er t&an 'ell ke*t+
I $i$ not see any 7rt or Mat& areas visi!le 'it&in t&e classroo)+ T&e ite)s
)ay &ave !een store$ a'ay or )i/e$ in 'it& ot&er areas 'it&in t&e classroo)+
"o is print literac# incorporated in the ever#da# routine of the classroom?
T&ere 'ere )any *osters 'it&in t&e classroo)6 &o'ever, t&e )a8ority o(
t&ese *osters 'ere relate$ to (oot!all or to t&e teac&er0s likin,s+ I $i$ notice so)e
s)all *ostin,s o( rules in certain areas+ T&ere 'ere *ostin,s o( &o' to 'as& t&e
&an$s correctly, a colan$er, an$ a (e' o( t&e c&il$ren0s *ictures+ T&e al*&a!et 'as
*oste$ a!ove t&e '&ite !oar$ an$ also *icture$ on t&e lar,e car*et aroun$ t&e
'&ite an$ c&alk !oar$s+ T&ere 'as not )uc& 4literacy5 *ro)ote$ !y t&e *osters or
*rint 'it&in t&e classroo)+ I( t&ere 'as, it 'as very s)all (or t&e c&il$ren not to
notice 'ell enou,&+
"o is print literac# addressed in large group activities?
3it&in )y visit, I $i$ not see )uc& literacy activities takin, *lace+ T&ere
'as one assistant '&o 'as 'orkin, 'it& one c&il$ on a ta!let+ T&e ta!let 'as sayin,
t&e al*&a!et an$ associatin, it 'it& $i((erent 'or$s t&rou,&out t&e al*&a!et in
'&ic& t&e c&il$ 'oul$ s*eak !ack to t&e assistant+ T&ey also *icke$ out *ictures
associate$ 'it& t&e letters in t&e al*&a!et as t&ey s*oke out t&ose 'or$s an$
letters+ T&e rest o( t&e class 'orke$ on t&eir o'n t&in,s until it ca)e to snack
ti)e+ I $i$ not see )uc& o( a transition ot&er t&an tellin, t&e c&il$ren to clean u*
an$ t&at it 'as ti)e (or a snack+ T&e c&il$ren 'ere6 &o'ever, very 'ell#!e&ave$
an$ .uiet $urin, )y visit+ T&ey 'ere a!le to (ollo' $irections 'ell '&en aske$ to $o
so)et&in,+
%& enhancements
Create a list of at least %& literac# enhancements #ou ould make to the
classroom environment.
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1. I 'oul$ (irst start !y cleanin, t&e classroo)9 T&ere 'as so )uc& lack o(
cleanliness as 'ell as or,ani-ation 'it&in t&e classroo) t&at it 'as killin, )e
8ust stan$in, t&ere an$ lookin, at it all9
2. I 'oul$ )ake all )aterials accessi!le to t&e c&il$ren+ C&il$ren $o not &ave
t&e a!ility to learn unless t&ey &ave access to t&e )aterials in *ro,ressin,
t&eir learnin, in all areas+ I 'oul$ take $o'n t&e !ooks an$ t&e store$
$ra)atic *lay clot&es an$ let t&e c&il$ren )aneuver 'it& t&e) all so t&ey
can learn &o' to use t&e) to'ar$ t&eir a$vanta,e+
3. T&ere nee$s to )e )ore o( a transition 'it&in activities+ I $i$ not notice
)uc& transitionin, !et'een activities2snack ti)e an$ snack ti)e2,oin,
outsi$e+ It 'as kin$ o( a, 4:et0s eat our snack95 an$ 4It0s ti)e to ,o outsi$e9
;ra! your coats95 rat&er t&an usin, a son, or )otion or even a relate$
activity to &el* t&e c&il$ren transition out o( '&at t&ey 'ere 'orkin, on
to'ar$ '&at t&ey 'ere a!out to $o+
4. T&ere nee$s to !e )ore acco))o$ation 'it& t&e c&il$ren '&o &ave s*ecial
nee$s+ I $i$ not see )uc& )otivation in tryin, to (in$ an activity (or all t&e
c&il$ren to *artici*ate in+ T&e c&il$ren see)e$ all over t&e *lace, $oin, '&at
t&ey 'ante$ to rat&er t&an (ocuse$ on so)et&in, 'it& )eanin, t&at 'oul$
!ene(it t&eir learnin,+
5. T&e assistant see)e$ )ore en,a,e$ t&an t&e actual instructor+ T&e
instructor see)e$ se$entary rat&er t&an en,a,e$ in t&e activities o( t&e
c&il$ren+ I 'as *rou$ o( t&e assistant6 &o'ever, I !elieve s&e s&oul$ &ave
!een 'orkin, 'it& )ore t&an 8ust one stu$ent, t&at 'ay, all o( t&e c&il$ren
coul$ en,a,e in t&e activity all t&e '&ile learn so)et&in, 'it& )eanin,+
6. T&ere 'as not )uc& co))unication 'it& t&e stu$ents an$ t&e instructor+
T&e c&il$ren )ost o( t&e ti)e talke$ to t&e)selves+ T&e instructor nee$s to
en,a,e in conversation 'it& t&e c&il$ren, '&et&er it is *ositive co))entary
or .uestionin, a!out '&at t&ey are 'orkin, on or i( t&ey nee$ &el* 'it& a
*articular task+
7. T&ere 'as not )uc& o( a )otivational $rive in t&e classroo) 'it& t&e
instructor+ No' I $o not kno' i( t&is is !ecause o( a $ee*er *ur*ose6
&o'ever, $urin, )y stay, I $i$ not (eel t&e $rive to 'ork 'it& t&e stu$ents
as I &ave seen in )any ot&er teac&ers I &ave )et *reviously+
8. I 'oul$ *rovi$e t&e c&il$ren 'it& !etter *rint literacy t&an t&at '&ic& 'as
*oste$ 'it&in t&e classroo)+ I 'oul$ un$erstan$ )ay!e a s)all (oot!all
*oster on t&e teac&er0s $esk, !ut t&ere nee$s to !e literacy *ro)otion
t&rou,&out t&e entire classroo)9 It nee$s to !e o( all as*ects inclu$in, 7rt,
Mat&, Science, <ea$in,, 3ritin,, an$ even =ra)atic Play9 T&ere 'ere a (e'
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very s)all *osters (or t&e c&il$ren in t&e classroo), !ut t&ose nee$ to !e
!i,,er an$ )ore a**ealin, to t&e c&il$ren9
9. T&e c&il$ren nee$e$ )ore en,a,e)ent 'it& literacy9 I really $i$ not see
)uc& *ro)otion (or t&e stu$ents+ T&ere 'as no a**eal to literacy 'it& t&e
c&il$ren+ >ven t&ou,& t&ey )ay !e s*ecial nee$s c&il$ren, it $oes not )ean
t&ey are in less nee$ o( literacy9 T&e teac&er coul$ !e rea$in, a !ook to t&e
c&il$ren or &avin, t&e c&il$ren look t&rou,& *icture !ooks or &ave t&e
c&il$ren 'ritin, or in $iscussion or so)et&in, o( t&e like9
10. T&e classroo) 8ust nee$s an all#aroun$ or,ani-ation+ 3&et&er it is 'it&
transitionin,, lesson#*lannin,, cleanin,, or 8ust ti)e#)ana,e)ent6 t&ere
nee$s to !e )ore or,ani-ation+ I a) not sure o( t&e !e&in$ story o( t&e
classroo), '&et&er t&ere is a *ro!le) 'it& !u$,et or '&atnot6 !ut, I coul$
tell t&ere 'ere a *let&ora a)ount o( literacy su**lies 'it&in t&at classroo)
t&at coul$ !e *ut to ,oo$ use (or t&ose si/ c&il$ren+
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