Reading / Play Observation/Appraisal

Observation of Instruction Reading Groups and Independent Play

Term Two  30 May 2018

Mike observed me teaching Instructional reading groups and the other children in the class were engaged in self selected play activities.

See the link for a record of this observation

https://docs.google.com/document/d/14hnIddTbQ9UJ84zlHDEPCXC31q_X3GWzYBiZDfB5AFQ/edit

Teacher Reflection - 30 May 2018

My next steps for play are to...

Continue to wonder and research and incorporate more opportunities for learning through play into the daily programme.

From my observations including opportunities for learning through play helps to engage the children and calms them down so they are more ready for instructional sessions with me.

Flexibility to use play when the class are engaging in it in a spontaneous way is useful (to keep behaviour on track and provides opportunities to respond to the children as “whole” people.  

I will continue to examine the research around play (more extensively) to ensure I am fully aware of the what, why and how of teaching and learning through play.

It is going to be a negotiation and balancing act for me as I want to keep the proven aspects of the daily programme like instructional reading, instructional writing, handwriting, maths groups and individual goal setting and practise as well as including more play!  

The deck making use of the deck - I am thinking if it could be covered in artificial grass it would enable more activities.

Having a range of exciting equipment for the children to use on the deck would also make this space more enticing to the children.

he other area I currently use is the cloak room and this is going well.

23 August - Term Four - Reflection of where I am at currently

I have trialed using the deck however we are very constrained by the size of the deck. Taking the blocks outside and using a rug to prevent them from falling through the decking works well.

I am currently thinking that a wood work bench could work well in this space.

Letting the children break out into the corridor space also works well and at present this is a perfect area for flying and making paper planes.

I have attended the Long worth learning through play course in Taupo and I am exploring how to work collaboratively with other staff members to implement opportunities for play outside more regularly as the equipment we have allows the children a wide range of opportunities to use their agency, imagination and skills of innovation.