Kailey Johansson

ECD 360B
Lead Teaching Reflection Week 9
1. What went well today? Provide 2 specific examples of childrens actions/comments that
occurred during self-selected activities. What evidence do you have for your conclusion?
DO NOT use the words, loved, liked, enjoyed; rather describe the evidence of
childrens reactions to the learning experience.
Today I had a dramatic play set up like a recital for the children to use musical instruments. J
was standing up on the stage strumming the guitar while M was using the cymbals to make
noise. They were talking about how loud the cymbals were. R also got up on stage to play
instruments unprompted. The lady bugs outside also went well and Miss Shawnee told me the
children were able to tell her the sound was coming from the shaking (vibrations) they were
making with the mallets.
2. Evaluate gathering time. What were some positive aspects of gathering time? What were
the participation needs of the children and how were they met? What would you change
for next time?
Today a lot of things went well with my lesson. For my Gathering Time lesson I had a piano
front and center as well as a guitar and a drum. The children sat quietly as they waited to see
what was under the sheet, which was the piano. I could tell my ITBE was taught successfully as I
described how sound comes from vibrations, which are small shaky movements. Shawnee played
the guitar and asked if they could see the vibrations. The children said they could. I also opened
the piano and they said they could see the vibrations from the strings in the piano as well as on
the big drum I had out. The children also participated by using loud and soft voices as directed as
we named the loud and soft sounds they heard from animals and other objects in the classroom.
3. Evaluate small focus groups. What were some positive aspects of small focus groups?
What were the participation needs of the children and how were they met? What would
you change for next time?
For small focus groups I got out wooden peg boards and had the children put rubber bands on
them to make a guitar of sorts. They were able to strum and hear the sounds from the rubber
band vibrations. All of the children were able to string the peg board at the same time so they
didnt have to take turns. They all strummed the strings and told the teachers about the
vibrations. The needs the children were met as they were provided a DAP activity that allowed
them to create something on their own and not wait. Next time I would look for the resources
ahead of time. I changed my small focus group activity the night before and didnt have enough
peg boards for each group so one group had a foam peg board which didnt work as well, so
when another group was done I had them trade.
4. Evaluate closing circle. What were some positive aspects of closing circle? What were
the participation needs of the children and how were they met? What would you change
for next time?
Closing circle had a good transition that got the children from small focus to closing circle very
quickly. They danced and then we moved straight into a variety of activities. The positive
Kailey Johansson
ECD 360B
aspects were the child involvement. All of the children participated and I had a different array of
games and books to cater to the different interests of the children. Some like stories more than
dancing and some like dancing more. I had enough activities out until all of the children were
gone. Next time I would change the transition to cater to all of the children instead of just the
children that like dancing.
5. How did you set clear expectations for childrens learning/ behaviors throughout the day?
Arent these the same question?
I set clear expectations in opening circle and gathering time as I had them sit on the tape. I kept
reminding them it was important to sit on the tape. I also helped the children at the sensory table
keep the rice in the table and take turns with the spindles. In dramatic play area and in blocks I
encouraged them to take turns with the different toys. At art I showed them examples of what
could be done with the paint.
6. What changes, or deviations, from the written plan did you make? Were they helpful?
Why or why not?
The deviations I made from the written plan were Small Focus Group. I changed this the night
before because I had a feeling the children making their own drums would not be successful. I
wanted them to have an enjoyable discovery experience and the rubber band guitars worked well
and fostered a better learning experience.
7. If you were to teach this plan again what would you do differently? A reflective
practitioner is able to identify those things that would make a lesson more effective
more engaging more appropriate for children as well as those things that went well!
Provide specific examples!
If I were to teach this plan again I would set up dramatic play a little better and have the science
area more pleasing to the eye. The children understood the concept but probable would have
been more engaged if I would have dyed the water different colors. I would also organize the
dramatic play differently and monitor the instruments better.
8. How was your lead teaching better this time compared to the last time you taught?
For this lead teaching I had better room awareness and resolved and prevented conflicts quickly.
My tone was better when I taught in a whole group setting and I was able to get the childrens
attention as I lowered my voice and used surprises to engage them. The day went smoothly and I
was definitely not as stressed as my last lesson when the breakers flipped.
9. What did you learn about yourself as a preschool teacher? What are some specific goals
you would like to work on for your next lead teaching day?
I learned that as a preschool teacher I can be successful as I think and research more in depth. I
can be successful as I take the childs interest to heart and plan it in the lesson. I have learned
more strategies to teacher a whole group setting which helps since I am more comfortable when I
work with children one on one. A goal for my next lead teaching is to find more engaging and
creative transitions that the children will respond to.