Just as we have done for infant and toddler observations, you will watch three brief video clips that were filmed at the Sophia Bremer Early Learning Academy in the preschool rooms. Both of the classrooms serve children age 3 to 5. Note that you are watching very, very small snippets of a day and that although these are brief clips, there is a lot of observations that you can make that will give clues into toddler development, social interaction and the caregiver’s interactions with the child. You may watch them as often as you like and you will look for specific signs of growth, development and interaction in each clip. Refer to the rubric for grading.
Note: the summary part of this observation is different that previous assignments (which is why this assignment is worth more points). Please read thoroughly!
Clip #1 In this clip, you will notice a lot of interaction between Melanie (who is recording the video) and three children at a table. The video does start off choppy, but will even out in the first couple of seconds. Most of the video will focus on interaction between Connal, Sophie and Melanie. Watch carefully and answer each of these three questions thoroughly:
1. What do you notice about Connal’s language skills? Do you think his language is DAP? Why or why not?
2. Focus on Sophie’s fine motor skills. Are they typical or atypical for a four year old? If you were the teacher in the classroom, how would you scaffold Sophie’s fine motor development so that she is ready for kindergarten?
3. What are your thoughts regarding the interaction between Melanie and Connal? Try to connect your thoughts to moving the child’s development forward.
Clip #2: In this clip, you will watch Teacher Maria interact with Violet and Anita while at play. Answer each of the three questions thorough and connect your responses to course concepts.
1. Anita is sitting in a “W” format on the floor. Is this healthy for physical development? Why or why not? Support your answer with sources from the book or internet.
2. What does Teacher Maria do with Anita to support her social/emotional development and assist with her play?
3. How would you describe the social interaction between Violet and Anita? Is this typical for preschool children? Why or why not? What could you do, as the teacher, to support budding social/emotional development of these children?
Clip #3: In the last clip, you will observe Teacher Robin working with Clay and Marley at a table. At the beginning of the clip, you’ll notice Clay is interested in talking to Melanie. Answer each of these questions thoroughly:
1. Clay is obviously excited about his work and he is using Vygotsky “social speech” as he is playing. Is this DAP for a four year old? Why do you think he was excited about his work? Should he have been allowed to share it with Melanie? Why or why not?
2. How could Teacher Robin enhance the social interaction between the children? Be specific with concrete DAP ideas.
3. Compare Marley’s fine motor skills with those of Sophie in clip #1. Thoughts? Be specific and connect to the physical development of preschoolers.
Finally, for the summary, answer these questions and then write your compare/contrast page (directions below): what do you notice about the developmental differences between toddlers and preschoolers? Be specific and use references from the text. In your opinion, what could the teacher(s) in these preschool clips document that would show these children are either ready or not ready for kindergarten? Lastly, are all of these children showing appropriate social/emotional development? How did you decide?
Last step (compare and contrast page): write a one page (minimum) summary that describes the overall developmental differences you have noticed between infants/toddlers and preschoolers. Site examples from the videos and connect to course concepts.
