Revision [1402]
Last edited on 2007-06-16 11:37:01 by BrandonSeniorAdditions:
Today Tyrek came back was more off the wall than usual, the whole class was. So instead of our usual start of circle time we took them outside to the playground for an hour. It was expected to get really hot today also so we wanted to make sure they had a chance to play. After we came back in Tyrek found three books from the class library and preceded to bang them on one of the table tops for a half hour solid. After that I had to watch him closely because he started to make a mess of everything. Elsewhere Hassan, Jaden, and Yasir continued their battle of who is the best friends and who is not. I had to repeatedly tell Hassan that we are all friends but he kept it up when I wasn't around. This will probably be something that they will have to outgrow. Zauria and David were still joined at the hip but not as tightly today. They managed to find other playmates at times but then came back to each other when they were done playing with other children. There was a mix up between the teacher Mr. Michael and Tyrek's speech therapist at nap time today. She came earlier than she was supposed to and took Tyrek just as he was about to close his eyes. Mr. Michael and the therapist had to come to an agreement when Tyrek is supposed to partake in his sessions with her. It is important that Tyrek gets all of the sleep that he needs or else his day is all out of order and he gets tired. When he came back from his session today it was hard getting him back to sleep. He started making noise waking up some of the other kids. Hopefully tomorrow is less hectic for Tyrek and his therapy sessions.
Today was a real good day for Tyrek. I had almost no problems with him. When I spoke with his dad today he said that Tyrek had a rough time getting to bed last night so he would most likely be tired today. As soon as he entered the classroom he took his usual lap around the classroom and came to sit in my lap. When I tried putting him down all he did was cry and reach for me to pick him up again. The therapist came in early this morning to meet with Tyrek. It was a rough time for her because he did not want to move. She eventually got him to move and got through the session with no problems. At lunch time today I had to repeatedly tell Zauria and David to take each others hands off of one another. I eventually split them up and Mr. Michael pulled each one of them to the side and explain why they are in the wrong. The afternoon was an active part of the day for Tyrek since he got a good nap. I kept him busy playing with the blocks. His dad came early to pick he and his brother up so I helped out with the other kids until it was time to go home.
Thursday, June 14, 2007
Today is my last day working for Head Start, and although I am happy to be moving on I am sad that I will be leaving all of the kids. Tyrek must have known this was my last day because he kept me on my toes all day long. Today during their time on the playground he managed to get out of my sight three times without me even noticing. He ran to the other side of the playground which is around the corner of the building. We had lunch earlier than usual today because of the barbecue. While we were eating I sat with Tyrek like I usually do. When I got up to get something to drink he decided to get up and run toward the street. I was able to catch up to him right before he made it to the sidewalk. While the kids were eating their ice cream Mr. Michael decided that it was time for Tyrek to lay down for his nap. When I brought him to his mat and laid him down, he began crying and kept getting up to sit in my lap. This has been the first time I haven't been able to get him to sleep so Mr. Michael did it for me. Instead I helped put the other children to sleep. Since the barbecue ran longer than expected, nap time ran longer so by the time the kids woke up the parents had come to pick them up. I will miss working for Bethel and hope to cross paths again.
Today was a real good day for Tyrek. I had almost no problems with him. When I spoke with his dad today he said that Tyrek had a rough time getting to bed last night so he would most likely be tired today. As soon as he entered the classroom he took his usual lap around the classroom and came to sit in my lap. When I tried putting him down all he did was cry and reach for me to pick him up again. The therapist came in early this morning to meet with Tyrek. It was a rough time for her because he did not want to move. She eventually got him to move and got through the session with no problems. At lunch time today I had to repeatedly tell Zauria and David to take each others hands off of one another. I eventually split them up and Mr. Michael pulled each one of them to the side and explain why they are in the wrong. The afternoon was an active part of the day for Tyrek since he got a good nap. I kept him busy playing with the blocks. His dad came early to pick he and his brother up so I helped out with the other kids until it was time to go home.
Thursday, June 14, 2007
Today is my last day working for Head Start, and although I am happy to be moving on I am sad that I will be leaving all of the kids. Tyrek must have known this was my last day because he kept me on my toes all day long. Today during their time on the playground he managed to get out of my sight three times without me even noticing. He ran to the other side of the playground which is around the corner of the building. We had lunch earlier than usual today because of the barbecue. While we were eating I sat with Tyrek like I usually do. When I got up to get something to drink he decided to get up and run toward the street. I was able to catch up to him right before he made it to the sidewalk. While the kids were eating their ice cream Mr. Michael decided that it was time for Tyrek to lay down for his nap. When I brought him to his mat and laid him down, he began crying and kept getting up to sit in my lap. This has been the first time I haven't been able to get him to sleep so Mr. Michael did it for me. Instead I helped put the other children to sleep. Since the barbecue ran longer than expected, nap time ran longer so by the time the kids woke up the parents had come to pick them up. I will miss working for Bethel and hope to cross paths again.
Deletions:
Revision [1399]
Edited on 2007-06-13 05:55:28 by BrandonSeniorAdditions:
Today Tyrek came back was more off the wall than usual, the whole class was. So instead of our usual start of circle time we took them outside to the playground for an hour. It was expected to get really hot today also so we wanted to make sure they had a chance to play. After we came back in Tyrek found three books from the class library and preceded to bang them on one of the table tops for a half hour solid. After that I had to watch him closely because he started to make a mess of everything. Elsewhere Hassan, Jaden, and Yasir continued their battle of who is the best friends and who is not. I had to repeatedly tell Hassan that we are all friends but he kept it up when I wasn't around. This will probably be something that they will have to outgrow. Zauria and David were still joined at the hip but not as tightly today. They managed to find other playmates at times but then came back to each other when they were done playing with other children. There was a mix up between the teacher Mr. Michael and Tyrek's speach therapist at nap time today. She came earlier than she was supposed to and took Tyrek just as he was about to close his eyes. Mr. Michael and the therapist had to come to an agreement when Tyrek is supposed to partake in his sessions with her. It is important that Tyrek gets all of the sleep that he needs or else his day is all out of order and he gets tired. When he came back from his session today it was hard getting him back to sleep. He started making noise waking up some of the other kids. Hopefully tomorrow is less hectic for Tyrek and his therapy sessions.
Wednesday, June 13, 2007
Wednesday, June 13, 2007
Revision [1398]
Edited on 2007-06-12 05:40:04 by BrandonSeniorAdditions:
I came back to 1485 in anticipation of working with Tyrek. It turns out because of the miscommunication last week when I did not come to this site, Tyrek's mother felt it would be best if someone else watch him instead of the Head Start program until further notice. Mr. Michael talked to her when she came to drop of Hassan (Tyrek's brother) and explained the situation and she agreed to being him back tomorrow. Today I focused on Hassan and two other boys, Jaden and Yasir. I noticed they have a "best friend complex". The "best friend complex" goes in circles amongst the three of them with Jaden being right in the middle. One moment Yasir and Jaden will decide that they are best friends and exclude Hassan, or Hassan and Jaden will be friends and exclude Yasir. From previous observation it looked like Yasir was the dominant one in this trio mainly because he is the biggest and oldest. Yesterday my observation was proved otherwise, because Yasir was left out of the loop for most of the day. He finally realized he did not have as much power as he thought he did. He eventually was incorporated back into the group without being the "top friend" but had to work for it. Another surprising development I noticed was between Zauria who is 3 and David who is 4. They were joined at the hip all day as if they were married. The teachers told me this started last week one of the days that I was not here. They renamed themselves Beyonce and Jay-Z and continued to hold hands, put each others arms around one another, and lay on one another. We had to keep a close eye on the two of them and make sure that they did not keep the behavior up. By nap time, they were ready to give each other a break and take a rest. After nap time they rediscovered one another and rejoined each other at the hip. After a good talking right after nap, they knew not to touch or talk to one another in any inappropriate way. The rest of the day went very smoothly. We went outside to play on the playground and came back inside for a snack. No word on the dogs next door getting out of their backyard into our playground. As far as we know they fixed the hole in the fence.
Tuesday, June 12, 2007
Tuesday, June 12, 2007
Revision [1397]
Edited on 2007-06-11 05:31:21 by BrandonSeniorAdditions:
Monday, June 11, 2007
Revision [1395]
Edited on 2007-06-07 14:50:43 by BrandonSeniorAdditions:
Today was my first day working for the Head Start program. I attended the 1485 site which is located on Jefferson Ave., just minutes away from the Canisius Campus. As soon as I got the each child was ecstatic that someone could be that tall. After overcoming the weirdness of being back in a preschool classroom and all the eyes staring at me I introduced myself to everyone and thus the day began. Each day I strictly mapped out for the children. I could tell each one of them wanted to know all about me and incorporate me into their small community. I started out by going around the classroom and asking everyone random questions from "how old are you?" to "how many brothers and sisters they had?" From the beginning I realized I would have to be careful about how much time I spent with a particular group of kids or an individual because it irritated many to see that I had not come over to play with them yet. To solve this problem the best way I could, I grabbed a book from their library and began reading it to a larger group; this way everyone felt involved. Not everyone came over to listen to me read, but greeted me in their own way and on their own time. At circle time while the teacher was helping everyone spell their name, there was one child that stood out in particular. His name is Tyrek. Jessica, another student in the practicum with me, had been working with him for a month before me. Some of the teachers think he may have autism because of his severe lack of social ability, control, and speech. My first attempt at distracting him so he did not disturb any of the other children did not last long. His attention span last only mere seconds. He did not answer to his name when any of the teachers called him and he had a habit of running out the door whenever he had the chance. When Jessica arrived and began working with him, she still had problems with him when she pulled him to the side but had gained some control and trust since he had been accustomed to her for little over a month. I monitored Jess while she dealt with him today to see what I could do when she left and I would be the one working with him. During play time she brought him aside with a small box of toys and played with him. She also helped him to stay still longer than he normally does. Tyrek has a counselor that comes in each day to work with him on his social and cognitive ability. I look forward to working with Tyrek as much as possible.
Today was my first day at the Langfield preschool in the Bethal Head Start program. When I arrived this morning I did not get the same response that I received from the last two preschools. The children seemed to be visually analyzing me before they would attempt to begin asking me questions. When I arrived they were finishing up their breakfast and were preparing for circle time, a routine that the other sites share. During circle time, the teacher introduced me to the kids as "Mr. Brandon" and soon after each child increasingly became distracted at my presence while the teacher was trying to get them to sing along to their daily circle songs. In the middle of each song one or two kids would come up to me and ask me my name again and what I was doing in their classroom. I'yana was one of the first to approach me. I have never met any 4 year old who speaks their mind like her. She said exactly what was on her mind and held nothing back. Needless to say she is a handful and often had run ins with the teachers about behavioral problems. All of the other boys and girls were rambunctious at times and needed constant reminder to be quiet and sit still at certain times. I was very impressed with the way Ms. White handled everything. She is very sweet but firmly puts her foot down when necessary. After circle time and play time, the kids went outside on the playground to release much of the energy they had built up. Out of all three preschools I would say that the Langfield children were the most competitive at every game they played. Everyone had to be the best and there was no accepting of second place. These attitudes led to some shed tears and many cuts and scrapes. After lunch it was nap time. About half of the kids would not go to sleep for anything. I had to sit by them most of the time I was there before my break and keep them from moving too far away from there nap spots and from bothering one another. After nap, reading time and snack time followed. By now everyone was more at ease and paid better attention. I gained the respect of every child and had no personal problems with any individual child. When parents came to pick up their kids each child was sent away with a heartfelt hug from each of their peers. Underneath all of the competitiveness and bickering lied a strong sense of care for one another. I found out today that this is the only preschool that is open on Friday so I may be taking on another day. They are going to the zoo next Friday and I may be going if it is in their budget. I am excited to continue working with these kids and observing the unique distinctions between all three preschools over the next 3 to 4 weeks.
Today I decided to come back to 1485 instead of going to Maryvale. Maryvale has more teachers in the classroom and they do not need as much help from me as does 1485, especially because of Tyrek. I knew he was going to be a handful today but I was looking forward to working with him once again. As predicted I was right. Usually he is tired in the morning and hyper in the afternoon, but today was the opposite. I had to follow him step by step in whatever he did because he continued to get into everything and make a mess. Tyrek has a habit of climbing on me or other teachers when he gets frustrated and/or it crying. The teachers informed me that they are trying to break him of getting used to being picked up and let him cry it all out, because when he enters public school they will not tend to him like that. So despite his numerous attempts to be picked up by me I would reject his request but still try and give him the attention that he desired. I understand that it is a sudden and drastic change I have to make with him since I have been with him for such a short amount of time. His speech coach came and got him today but I did not observe because I was needed in the classroom. When he came back it was time for gross motor. He got most of his energy out and by lunch he began to get cranky so I laid him down on his mat a little early. Twenty minutes in to laying him down he was fast asleep. His therapist came again and I went with them to observe. She did the same exercises that she did with him yesterday. His performance today was slightly better than yesterdays. After his session we went back to the classroom to play and have snack. I came back to find out that two of the kids were fighting and parents had to be called. One of the two that was fighting has been suspended for tomorrow for her actions.
Today I came back to the Langfield preschool. There was a bit of a mix up at the 1485 site; they were expecting me to come in today to work with Tyrek. At the request of the director of Bethal, I will be working at 1485 next week to finish off my hours. Teachers at 1485 would prefer to have someone else in the classroom to help with Tyrek because he can be a handful. They asked his parents to keep him at home when they do not have someone. It has been suggested to his parents to put him in a program that specializes in his condition so he can receive the proper care, but his parents have rejected the idea. They feel he will eventually come out of his "autistic-like" habits as he gets older, which Tyrek's therapist strongly disagrees with. Mr. Loman is currently searching for a special program he can put Tyrek in to accommodate him.
Langfield was very easy going today. We went to the park across the street from the Langfield projects. All of the kids were on their best behavior walking there and on our way back. We came back and had reading time and lunch. After lunch everyone was exhausted from the heat on the playground and almost immediately fell asleep. There were a few like I'yana and Jayquel who I had to repeatedly tell to be quiet, but they too fell fast asleep. The class has been monitoring a group of caterpillars that have since changed into butterflies. Right before it was time to leave we took them in the cage that the teachers had provided and released them. The class was also keeping three snails for observation; we let them go as well. Next week Thursday the kids are having a barbecue and a moving up ceremony into kindergarten with their parents and teachers. I will be stopping in to visit with them during my lunch break since I will be at 1485 all next week. I also plan to visit the kids at Maryvale to say goodbye to them as well.
Today was my first day at the Langfield preschool in the Bethal Head Start program. When I arrived this morning I did not get the same response that I received from the last two preschools. The children seemed to be visually analyzing me before they would attempt to begin asking me questions. When I arrived they were finishing up their breakfast and were preparing for circle time, a routine that the other sites share. During circle time, the teacher introduced me to the kids as "Mr. Brandon" and soon after each child increasingly became distracted at my presence while the teacher was trying to get them to sing along to their daily circle songs. In the middle of each song one or two kids would come up to me and ask me my name again and what I was doing in their classroom. I'yana was one of the first to approach me. I have never met any 4 year old who speaks their mind like her. She said exactly what was on her mind and held nothing back. Needless to say she is a handful and often had run ins with the teachers about behavioral problems. All of the other boys and girls were rambunctious at times and needed constant reminder to be quiet and sit still at certain times. I was very impressed with the way Ms. White handled everything. She is very sweet but firmly puts her foot down when necessary. After circle time and play time, the kids went outside on the playground to release much of the energy they had built up. Out of all three preschools I would say that the Langfield children were the most competitive at every game they played. Everyone had to be the best and there was no accepting of second place. These attitudes led to some shed tears and many cuts and scrapes. After lunch it was nap time. About half of the kids would not go to sleep for anything. I had to sit by them most of the time I was there before my break and keep them from moving too far away from there nap spots and from bothering one another. After nap, reading time and snack time followed. By now everyone was more at ease and paid better attention. I gained the respect of every child and had no personal problems with any individual child. When parents came to pick up their kids each child was sent away with a heartfelt hug from each of their peers. Underneath all of the competitiveness and bickering lied a strong sense of care for one another. I found out today that this is the only preschool that is open on Friday so I may be taking on another day. They are going to the zoo next Friday and I may be going if it is in their budget. I am excited to continue working with these kids and observing the unique distinctions between all three preschools over the next 3 to 4 weeks.
Today I decided to come back to 1485 instead of going to Maryvale. Maryvale has more teachers in the classroom and they do not need as much help from me as does 1485, especially because of Tyrek. I knew he was going to be a handful today but I was looking forward to working with him once again. As predicted I was right. Usually he is tired in the morning and hyper in the afternoon, but today was the opposite. I had to follow him step by step in whatever he did because he continued to get into everything and make a mess. Tyrek has a habit of climbing on me or other teachers when he gets frustrated and/or it crying. The teachers informed me that they are trying to break him of getting used to being picked up and let him cry it all out, because when he enters public school they will not tend to him like that. So despite his numerous attempts to be picked up by me I would reject his request but still try and give him the attention that he desired. I understand that it is a sudden and drastic change I have to make with him since I have been with him for such a short amount of time. His speech coach came and got him today but I did not observe because I was needed in the classroom. When he came back it was time for gross motor. He got most of his energy out and by lunch he began to get cranky so I laid him down on his mat a little early. Twenty minutes in to laying him down he was fast asleep. His therapist came again and I went with them to observe. She did the same exercises that she did with him yesterday. His performance today was slightly better than yesterdays. After his session we went back to the classroom to play and have snack. I came back to find out that two of the kids were fighting and parents had to be called. One of the two that was fighting has been suspended for tomorrow for her actions.
Today I came back to the Langfield preschool. There was a bit of a mix up at the 1485 site; they were expecting me to come in today to work with Tyrek. At the request of the director of Bethal, I will be working at 1485 next week to finish off my hours. Teachers at 1485 would prefer to have someone else in the classroom to help with Tyrek because he can be a handful. They asked his parents to keep him at home when they do not have someone. It has been suggested to his parents to put him in a program that specializes in his condition so he can receive the proper care, but his parents have rejected the idea. They feel he will eventually come out of his "autistic-like" habits as he gets older, which Tyrek's therapist strongly disagrees with. Mr. Loman is currently searching for a special program he can put Tyrek in to accommodate him.
Langfield was very easy going today. We went to the park across the street from the Langfield projects. All of the kids were on their best behavior walking there and on our way back. We came back and had reading time and lunch. After lunch everyone was exhausted from the heat on the playground and almost immediately fell asleep. There were a few like I'yana and Jayquel who I had to repeatedly tell to be quiet, but they too fell fast asleep. The class has been monitoring a group of caterpillars that have since changed into butterflies. Right before it was time to leave we took them in the cage that the teachers had provided and released them. The class was also keeping three snails for observation; we let them go as well. Next week Thursday the kids are having a barbecue and a moving up ceremony into kindergarten with their parents and teachers. I will be stopping in to visit with them during my lunch break since I will be at 1485 all next week. I also plan to visit the kids at Maryvale to say goodbye to them as well.
Deletions:
Today was my first day at the Langfield preschool in the Bethal Head Start program. When I arrived this morning I did not get the same response that I received from the last two preschools. The children seemed to be visually analyzing me before they would attempt to begin asking me questions. When I arrived they were finishing up their breakfast and were preparing for circle time, a routine that the other sites share. During circle time, the teacher introduced me to the kids as "Mr. Brandon" and soon after each child increasingly became distracted at my presence while the teacher was trying to get them to sing along to their daily circle songs. In the middle of each song one or two kids would come up to me and ask me my name again and what I was doing in their classroom. I'yana was one of the first to approach me. I have never met any 4 year old who speaks their mind like her. She said exactly what was on her mind and held nothing back. Needless to say she is a handful and often had run ins with the teachers about behavioral problems. All of the other boys and girls were rambunctious at times and needed constant reminder to be quiet and sit still at certain times. I was very impressed with the way Ms. White handled everything. She is very sweet but firmly puts her foot down when necessary. After circle time and play time, the kids went outside on the playground to release much of the energy they had built up. Out of all three preschools I would say that the Langfield children were the most competitive at every game they played. Everyone had to be the best and there was no accepting of second place. These attitudes led to some shed tears and many cuts and scrapes. After lunch it was nap time. About half of the kids would not go to sleep for anything. I had to sit by them most of the time I was there before my break and keep them from moving too far away from there nap spots and from bothering one another. After nap, reading time and snack time followed. By now everyone was more at ease and paid better attention. I gained the respect of every child and had no personal problems with any individual child. When parents came to pick up their kids each child was sent away with a heartfelt hug from each of their peers. Underneath all of the competiveness and bickering lied a strong sense of care for one another. I found out today that this is the only preschool that is open on Friday so I may be taking on another day. They are going to the zoo next Friday and I may be going if it is in their budget. I am excited to continue working with these kids and observing the unique distinctions between all three preschools over the next 3 to 4 weeks.
Today I decided to come back to 1485 instead of going to Maryvale. Maryvale has more teachers in the classroom and they do not need as much help from me as does 1485, especially because of Tyrek. I knew he was going to be a handful today but I was looking forward to working with him once again. As predicted I was right. Usually he is tired in the morning and hyper in the afternoon, but today was the opposite. I had to follow him step by step in whatever he did because he continued to get into everything and make a mess. Tyrek has a habit of climbing on me or other teachers when he gets frustrated and/or it crying. The teachers informed me that they are trying to break him of getting used to being picked up and let him cry it all out, because when he enters public school they will not tend to him like that. So despite his numerous attempts to be picked up by me I would reject his request but still try and give him the attention that he desired. I understand that it is a sudden and drastic change I have to make with him since I have been with him for such a short amount of time. His speech coach came and got him today but I did not observe because I was needed in the classroom. When he came back it was time for gross motor. He got most of his energy out and by lunch he began to get cranky so I layed him down on his mat a little early. Twenty minutes in to laying him down he was fast asleep. His therapist came again and I went with them to observe. She did the same exercises that she did with him yesterday. His performance today was slightly better than yesterdays. After his session we went back to the classroom to play and have snack. I came back to find out that two of the kids were fighting and parents had to be called. One of the two that was fighting has been suspended for tomorrow for her actions.
Today I came back to the Langfield preschool.
Revision [1394]
Edited on 2007-06-07 05:47:36 by BrandonSeniorAdditions:
Thursday, June 7, 2007
Today I came back to the Langfield preschool.
Today I came back to the Langfield preschool.
Revision [1392]
Edited on 2007-06-06 11:13:56 by BrandonSeniorAdditions:
Today I decided to come back to 1485 instead of going to Maryvale. Maryvale has more teachers in the classroom and they do not need as much help from me as does 1485, especially because of Tyrek. I knew he was going to be a handful today but I was looking forward to working with him once again. As predicted I was right. Usually he is tired in the morning and hyper in the afternoon, but today was the opposite. I had to follow him step by step in whatever he did because he continued to get into everything and make a mess. Tyrek has a habit of climbing on me or other teachers when he gets frustrated and/or it crying. The teachers informed me that they are trying to break him of getting used to being picked up and let him cry it all out, because when he enters public school they will not tend to him like that. So despite his numerous attempts to be picked up by me I would reject his request but still try and give him the attention that he desired. I understand that it is a sudden and drastic change I have to make with him since I have been with him for such a short amount of time. His speech coach came and got him today but I did not observe because I was needed in the classroom. When he came back it was time for gross motor. He got most of his energy out and by lunch he began to get cranky so I layed him down on his mat a little early. Twenty minutes in to laying him down he was fast asleep. His therapist came again and I went with them to observe. She did the same exercises that she did with him yesterday. His performance today was slightly better than yesterdays. After his session we went back to the classroom to play and have snack. I came back to find out that two of the kids were fighting and parents had to be called. One of the two that was fighting has been suspended for tomorrow for her actions.
Deletions:
Revision [1391]
Edited on 2007-06-06 05:35:54 by BrandonSeniorAdditions:
Wednesday, June 6, 2007
Today I decided to come back to 1485 instead of going to Maryvale. Maryvale has more teachers in the classroom and they do not need as much help from me as does 1485, especially because of Tyrek. I knew he was going to be a handful today but I was looking forward to working with him once again.
Today I decided to come back to 1485 instead of going to Maryvale. Maryvale has more teachers in the classroom and they do not need as much help from me as does 1485, especially because of Tyrek. I knew he was going to be a handful today but I was looking forward to working with him once again.
Revision [1390]
Edited on 2007-06-05 12:31:31 by BrandonSeniorAdditions:
Working with Tyrek today went exceptionally well. As soon as he came in I greeted him and started playing with him right away. He became reaquianted with me right away and stuck by me the entire day. During circle time and play time he sat in my lap and didn't run around the classroom. I concentrated and getting him to look me in the face when I spoke to him. I received about 5 seconds more of his attention each time he looked at me in the face, which is a lot better than the last time I met with him. I took a lot of energy out of him because when we went to the gross motor room he didn't want to do anything but sit on my lap. We didn't go outside today because it was raining and also because the woman's pitbulls next door got out of their backyard and were roaming the playground as well. A man trying to fix the fence was attacked by one of the dogs but luckily walked away with a ripped pant leg. At lunch Tyrek became upset when he began eating but could not effectively communicate what was wrong. Myself and another teacher did our best to figure out what was wrong but could do nothing. Tyrek finished eating his fruit and I layed him down for his nap. He quickly fell asleep and woke up and hour and a half later. By then his therapist had shown. Today I went and observed what Tyrek does in his sessions. They do puzzles, play catch, and blow bubbles among other things to get his motor and cognitive skills working at a higher level. Overall today was a really great day for him. I may be coming in the rest of the week to help out with him. The teachers have recommended that he not come into school if Jessica or I are not there to watch him because he is too much to watch and take care of the other children.
Revision [1389]
Edited on 2007-06-05 05:30:23 by BrandonSeniorAdditions:
Tuesday, June 5, 2007
Revision [1388]
Edited on 2007-06-04 14:22:05 by BrandonSeniorAdditions:
Today was a difficult day for the children at Maryvale. From the beginning of the morning till the middle of the day, more than half of the kids were getting into trouble. The two who stood out the most were Calvion and Aaliyah. Calvion did not want to participate in any of the activities that the other children were involved with. Aaliyah repeatedly got up from her assigned seat on the carpet and proceeded to run all over the room disrupting everyone else. Their behavior along with everyone else who misbehaved faced the consequences at gym time when they had to sit and watch the rest of the children play. Even while on punishment some of the kids continued to act out, mostly Aaliyah. I learned today that she has a lot of siblings and that her actions are most likely an attempt to get as much attention as possible. While she was running around and being yelled at by the teacher, she had the biggest smile on her face and found her actions to be nothing short of amusing. As gym time went on she began to break along with everyone else and began to get upset. She had to be held by one of the teachers because she tried to run and play anyway. At the end of their recreation time I had to take Aaliyah up to the main office where the director was so she could deal with her behavior. As we got closer to the office she was more quiet. I left at this point for my break and came back to almost everyone sleep. Calvion was surprisingly passed out along with Aaliyah. When they woke up Aaliyah's attitude improved but Calvion was still struggling. He continued to seclude himself from the rest of the class. Once I sat down and talked to him without threatening punishment he opened up. Turns out all he wanted was a hug and he was fine. The day ended on a good note with everyone. I can tell that the children are beginning to trust and like me more. It is a shame because I only have this week and next with them until my hours are up.
Revision [1387]
Edited on 2007-06-04 13:56:23 by BrandonSeniorAdditions:
My name is Brandon Senior and I am a recent graduate of Canisius College. I majored in Psychology with a minor in Criminal Justice. I will be attending graduate school at St. Bonaventure this fall. For my Clinical Psychology practicum I will be attending three preschool locations under the Bethel Head Start Program: Maryvale, 1485, and Langfield. I will attend Maryvale Monday's and Wednesday's, 1485 on Tuesday's, and Langfield on Thursday's. I will be helping the teachers out with the children during the day. I will be working with particular children at each site who have behavioral problems.
Today was my first day working for the Head Start program. I attended the 1485 site which is located on Jefferson Ave., just minutes away from the Canisius Campus. As soon as I got the each child was ecstatic that someone could be that tall. After overcoming the weirdness of being back in a preschool classroom and all the eyes staring at me I introduced myself to everyone and thus the day began. Each day I strictly mapped out for the children. I could tell each one of them wanted to know all about me and incorporate me into their small community. I started out by going around the classroom and asking everyone random questions from "how old are you?" to "how many brothers and sisters they had?" From the beginning I realized I would have to be careful about how much time I spent with a particular group of kids or an individual because it irritated many to see that I had not come over to play with them yet. To solve this problem the best way I could, I grabbed a book from their library and began reading it to a larger group; this way everyone felt involved. Not everyone came over to listen to me read, but greeted me in their own way and on their own time. At circle time while the teacher was helping everyone spell their name, there was one child that stood out in particular. His name is Tyrek. Jessica, another student in the practicum with me, had been working with him for a month before me. Some of the teachers think he may have autism because of his severe lack of social ability, control, and speech. My first attempt at distracting him so he did not disturb any of the other children did not last long. His attention span last only mere seconds. He did not answer to his name when any of the teachers called him and he had a habit of running out the door whenever he had the chance. When Jessica arrived and began working with him, she still had problems with him when she pulled him to the side but had gained some control and trust since he had been acustomed to her for little over a month. I monitored Jess while she dealt with him today to see what I could do when she left and I would be the one working with him. During play time she brought him aside with a small box of toys and played with him. She also helped him to stay still longer than he normally does. Tyrek has a counselor that comes in each day to work with him on his social and cognitive ability. I look forward to working with Tyrek as much as possible.
I felt nervous all over again today because I had to get used to a new group of children. I went to the Maryvale site located only minutes away from Canisius. When I got there I had the same reaction from all of the children. They were amazed with my height and wanted to get to know as much as possible about me immediately. I have to say that these kids today compared to yesterday were 100 times more rambunctious than ever. Between both teachers and I we had to break up fights, tend to tears, and deal with petty arguments to exhaust anyone for a lifetime. They were real good kids but I knew I would have to put my foot down harder with them. Their daily schedule is similar to the 1485 site. They began the day by counting how many boys and girls were in the class at their circle time and had play time soon after. I took the same approach as yesterday and mingled with as many kids as I could at once. One particular girl Amaya latched on to me the minute she saw me and did not want to share me with anyone else. It was a challenge breaking away from her so I could meet everyone else. There were three boys today that consistently disobeyed every rule and had to sit in time out before they could play outside. I am still learning names, and at this moment I can not remember them. One of the boys became irritated with me half way through the day because I was on his case at all times. I took into consideration that he had just gotten over a cold and he missed his mother, but I did not let him get away with antagonizing the other children. This preschool will be the hardest by far out of the two that I've been to so far. I wonder what Langfield will be like?? The second half of the day was spent on the playground for about 20 minutes, a hour and a half nap, story time, snack time, and then time to leave on the bus. Before my next visit I plan on scheming up ways to better handle the ongoing chaos that goes on in their classroom. Each child responds so differently so it will be a tough challenge.
Today I returned to the Maryvale preschool. All of the children were happy to see me again. When I got there everyone just finished up their breakfast and wanted me to hold their hands on the way back to the classroom. Calvion and Markel made a scene everywhere we went today. From the playground to circle time to nap time, they had to be told to be quiet or sit down numerous times today. Markel is rambunctious but he is easier to deal with out of the two. Calvion on the other hand was constantly moody and wanted nothing other than to go home to his mother. Whenever I asked him to come to me he gave me nothing but attitude and pouting. Needless to say Calvion was my main focus today. At first I tried hanging his playground privileges above his head so to speak if he did not behave. This did not go over so well. He exclaimed that he did not care and that he was going to go outside if he wanted. Once we all went outside he was immediately told to sit and the corner and he began to cry. I came over to talk and explain why he was sitting. He didn't say anything at first but then decided he may want to get on my good side if he ever wanted to play, so he sat on my lap. After the playground we went back inside for reading time and then lunch. Calvion continued to argue and hit other kids (not always due to his initiation) which resulted in me pulling him aside once again. Calvion only whined and held his head down when I asked for an explanation of his behavior. During nap time he decided to draw all over his hands and legs with a blue marker. When he found out it wasn't going to come out as easy as he thought it would he began crying. This was the final straw for him and decided that he would stick by me the rest of the day and not get into any more trouble. He followed me everywhere I went in the classroom. Unfortunately he had one more run in with another student and had to sit in time out. He didn't cry this time realizing what he had done wrong. At the end of the day he was very quiet and ready to go home. The teacher pinned a note on the back of his shirt explaining the marker all over his body and his behavior throughout the day. I asked Calvion to promise to me to behave tomorrow and everyday from here on out even when I am at other preschools. He gave me a simple nod, but I know there is more to come from him.
The kids at the Langfield preschool had an easy going start to their morning. After their sausage, toast, and milk, it was time for circle time. Circle time went pretty smooth. Their were a few misbehaving children in the group, but nothing out of the ordinary. Instead of taking the children to the playground on the school grounds, the teachers decided to take everyone to the park down the street. I was very impressed how everyone followed the rules on our way to the park. Everyone was paired up with another child without letting go of each other's hand, and no one ran into the street. The playground took a lot of energy out of the kids not to mention the fact that it was almost 90 degrees at the time. Trouble arose when we got back because of the dehydration and restlessness. The kids were pushing one another in line to get their water. After they got their water it was play time. Almost have the class ended up in trouble for hitting or ended up crying. Lunch time barely contained the ongoing madness since we got back from the park. Nap time could not have come soon enough because there were a number of worn out preschoolers. All but two kids would fall asleep. Cheyenne and Elijah wouldn't stay still for anyone. Cheyenne eventually calmed down, but I had to speak with Elijah numerous times during nap time. While they were getting their mats for nap time Elijah ran away from every teacher that tried to get him to get his mat. I had to pick him up and put him in his designated spot. He eventually fell asleep but had to sit in time out when we went back outside. This is the most trouble I have ever seen him in. I made a note to stick close by to him for the rest of the day. Tomorrow I will be coming back to Langfield to attend the class field trip. We will be going to the Buffalo Zoo from 9:30 am till 12:30 pm. Everyone has been talking about it all day. I could tell they were trying their hardest to be on their best behavior today in fear of being forbidden to attend tomorrows trip.
Today I attended a field trip to the Buffalo Zoo with the preschoolers from the Langfield site. Everyone was excited this morning and ready to get moving. After breakfast was circle time. I never noticed but when we sang our songs in the circle almost every girl participated and close to none of the boys did. Maybe one or two out of the 8 eight boys sang along. I will be paying attention to this trend next week to see if it still continues. I also noticed that everyone was exceptionally good before we headed out to the bus because there were parents present. When Ms. Wilk told everyone to quiet down everyone closed their mouths within seconds. Once we got to the zoo everyone was excited to see the lions and the snakes. There were about 10 to 15 other schools that scheduled to visit the zoo the same day as us when we got there so it was very crowded. I was proud of our kids because they all held each other's hands and followed directions like they were supposed to. Once we got in the zoo things got a little hectic. Every exhibit all the kids ran around pushing and shoving at times to get a good spot to see the animals. A couple of the kids had to use the bathroom after claiming they didn't need to use it when we left the school. Some did not make it to the bathroom in time. Before we left we went on the carousel which they all wanted to do at the beginning. When we got back we had lunch and then watched a movie. Nap time was especially hard for Malachi and Elijah today. Elijah's mother had to be called and even at her request he still acted out. He had to be pulled out of the classroom by another teacher and had a stern talking to. He came back and laid on his mat without a problem. Malachi's mat had to be taken away from him because he was trying to rip it. He continued to talk after having his mat away and was sent to the next room to sit by himself. After nap time, Malachi and Elijah were told that they could not participate during playground time because of their behavior. This news was soon followed by tears. I sat with the both of them during their time outs and explained why they were sitting and not playing. They both ended up falling asleep in my lap because they didn't get much of it during nap time. When their parents came to pick them up they were very disappointed in them. I expect to see an enormous improvement in the both of them by next week. They have been put under strict probation by the teachers and have been promised that they will not attend the next field trip if their behavior stays the way it has been.
Today was my first day working for the Head Start program. I attended the 1485 site which is located on Jefferson Ave., just minutes away from the Canisius Campus. As soon as I got the each child was ecstatic that someone could be that tall. After overcoming the weirdness of being back in a preschool classroom and all the eyes staring at me I introduced myself to everyone and thus the day began. Each day I strictly mapped out for the children. I could tell each one of them wanted to know all about me and incorporate me into their small community. I started out by going around the classroom and asking everyone random questions from "how old are you?" to "how many brothers and sisters they had?" From the beginning I realized I would have to be careful about how much time I spent with a particular group of kids or an individual because it irritated many to see that I had not come over to play with them yet. To solve this problem the best way I could, I grabbed a book from their library and began reading it to a larger group; this way everyone felt involved. Not everyone came over to listen to me read, but greeted me in their own way and on their own time. At circle time while the teacher was helping everyone spell their name, there was one child that stood out in particular. His name is Tyrek. Jessica, another student in the practicum with me, had been working with him for a month before me. Some of the teachers think he may have autism because of his severe lack of social ability, control, and speech. My first attempt at distracting him so he did not disturb any of the other children did not last long. His attention span last only mere seconds. He did not answer to his name when any of the teachers called him and he had a habit of running out the door whenever he had the chance. When Jessica arrived and began working with him, she still had problems with him when she pulled him to the side but had gained some control and trust since he had been acustomed to her for little over a month. I monitored Jess while she dealt with him today to see what I could do when she left and I would be the one working with him. During play time she brought him aside with a small box of toys and played with him. She also helped him to stay still longer than he normally does. Tyrek has a counselor that comes in each day to work with him on his social and cognitive ability. I look forward to working with Tyrek as much as possible.
I felt nervous all over again today because I had to get used to a new group of children. I went to the Maryvale site located only minutes away from Canisius. When I got there I had the same reaction from all of the children. They were amazed with my height and wanted to get to know as much as possible about me immediately. I have to say that these kids today compared to yesterday were 100 times more rambunctious than ever. Between both teachers and I we had to break up fights, tend to tears, and deal with petty arguments to exhaust anyone for a lifetime. They were real good kids but I knew I would have to put my foot down harder with them. Their daily schedule is similar to the 1485 site. They began the day by counting how many boys and girls were in the class at their circle time and had play time soon after. I took the same approach as yesterday and mingled with as many kids as I could at once. One particular girl Amaya latched on to me the minute she saw me and did not want to share me with anyone else. It was a challenge breaking away from her so I could meet everyone else. There were three boys today that consistently disobeyed every rule and had to sit in time out before they could play outside. I am still learning names, and at this moment I can not remember them. One of the boys became irritated with me half way through the day because I was on his case at all times. I took into consideration that he had just gotten over a cold and he missed his mother, but I did not let him get away with antagonizing the other children. This preschool will be the hardest by far out of the two that I've been to so far. I wonder what Langfield will be like?? The second half of the day was spent on the playground for about 20 minutes, a hour and a half nap, story time, snack time, and then time to leave on the bus. Before my next visit I plan on scheming up ways to better handle the ongoing chaos that goes on in their classroom. Each child responds so differently so it will be a tough challenge.
Today I returned to the Maryvale preschool. All of the children were happy to see me again. When I got there everyone just finished up their breakfast and wanted me to hold their hands on the way back to the classroom. Calvion and Markel made a scene everywhere we went today. From the playground to circle time to nap time, they had to be told to be quiet or sit down numerous times today. Markel is rambunctious but he is easier to deal with out of the two. Calvion on the other hand was constantly moody and wanted nothing other than to go home to his mother. Whenever I asked him to come to me he gave me nothing but attitude and pouting. Needless to say Calvion was my main focus today. At first I tried hanging his playground privileges above his head so to speak if he did not behave. This did not go over so well. He exclaimed that he did not care and that he was going to go outside if he wanted. Once we all went outside he was immediately told to sit and the corner and he began to cry. I came over to talk and explain why he was sitting. He didn't say anything at first but then decided he may want to get on my good side if he ever wanted to play, so he sat on my lap. After the playground we went back inside for reading time and then lunch. Calvion continued to argue and hit other kids (not always due to his initiation) which resulted in me pulling him aside once again. Calvion only whined and held his head down when I asked for an explanation of his behavior. During nap time he decided to draw all over his hands and legs with a blue marker. When he found out it wasn't going to come out as easy as he thought it would he began crying. This was the final straw for him and decided that he would stick by me the rest of the day and not get into any more trouble. He followed me everywhere I went in the classroom. Unfortunately he had one more run in with another student and had to sit in time out. He didn't cry this time realizing what he had done wrong. At the end of the day he was very quiet and ready to go home. The teacher pinned a note on the back of his shirt explaining the marker all over his body and his behavior throughout the day. I asked Calvion to promise to me to behave tomorrow and everyday from here on out even when I am at other preschools. He gave me a simple nod, but I know there is more to come from him.
The kids at the Langfield preschool had an easy going start to their morning. After their sausage, toast, and milk, it was time for circle time. Circle time went pretty smooth. Their were a few misbehaving children in the group, but nothing out of the ordinary. Instead of taking the children to the playground on the school grounds, the teachers decided to take everyone to the park down the street. I was very impressed how everyone followed the rules on our way to the park. Everyone was paired up with another child without letting go of each other's hand, and no one ran into the street. The playground took a lot of energy out of the kids not to mention the fact that it was almost 90 degrees at the time. Trouble arose when we got back because of the dehydration and restlessness. The kids were pushing one another in line to get their water. After they got their water it was play time. Almost have the class ended up in trouble for hitting or ended up crying. Lunch time barely contained the ongoing madness since we got back from the park. Nap time could not have come soon enough because there were a number of worn out preschoolers. All but two kids would fall asleep. Cheyenne and Elijah wouldn't stay still for anyone. Cheyenne eventually calmed down, but I had to speak with Elijah numerous times during nap time. While they were getting their mats for nap time Elijah ran away from every teacher that tried to get him to get his mat. I had to pick him up and put him in his designated spot. He eventually fell asleep but had to sit in time out when we went back outside. This is the most trouble I have ever seen him in. I made a note to stick close by to him for the rest of the day. Tomorrow I will be coming back to Langfield to attend the class field trip. We will be going to the Buffalo Zoo from 9:30 am till 12:30 pm. Everyone has been talking about it all day. I could tell they were trying their hardest to be on their best behavior today in fear of being forbidden to attend tomorrows trip.
Today I attended a field trip to the Buffalo Zoo with the preschoolers from the Langfield site. Everyone was excited this morning and ready to get moving. After breakfast was circle time. I never noticed but when we sang our songs in the circle almost every girl participated and close to none of the boys did. Maybe one or two out of the 8 eight boys sang along. I will be paying attention to this trend next week to see if it still continues. I also noticed that everyone was exceptionally good before we headed out to the bus because there were parents present. When Ms. Wilk told everyone to quiet down everyone closed their mouths within seconds. Once we got to the zoo everyone was excited to see the lions and the snakes. There were about 10 to 15 other schools that scheduled to visit the zoo the same day as us when we got there so it was very crowded. I was proud of our kids because they all held each other's hands and followed directions like they were supposed to. Once we got in the zoo things got a little hectic. Every exhibit all the kids ran around pushing and shoving at times to get a good spot to see the animals. A couple of the kids had to use the bathroom after claiming they didn't need to use it when we left the school. Some did not make it to the bathroom in time. Before we left we went on the carousel which they all wanted to do at the beginning. When we got back we had lunch and then watched a movie. Nap time was especially hard for Malachi and Elijah today. Elijah's mother had to be called and even at her request he still acted out. He had to be pulled out of the classroom by another teacher and had a stern talking to. He came back and laid on his mat without a problem. Malachi's mat had to be taken away from him because he was trying to rip it. He continued to talk after having his mat away and was sent to the next room to sit by himself. After nap time, Malachi and Elijah were told that they could not participate during playground time because of their behavior. This news was soon followed by tears. I sat with the both of them during their time outs and explained why they were sitting and not playing. They both ended up falling asleep in my lap because they didn't get much of it during nap time. When their parents came to pick them up they were very disappointed in them. I expect to see an enormous improvement in the both of them by next week. They have been put under strict probation by the teachers and have been promised that they will not attend the next field trip if their behavior stays the way it has been.
Deletions:
Today was my first day working for the Head Start program. I attended the 1485 site which is located on Jefferson Ave., just minutes away from the Canisius Campus. As soon as I got the each child was estatic that someone could be that tall. After overcoming the weirdness of being back in a preschool classroom and all the eyes staring at me I introduced myself to everyone and thus the day began. Each day I strictly mapped out for the children. I could tell each one of them wanted to know all about me and incorporate me into their small community. I started out by going around the classroom and asking everyone random questions from "how old are you?" to "how many brothers and sisters they had?" From the beginning I realized I would have to be careful about how much time I spent with a particular group of kids or an individual because it irritated many to see that I had not come over to play with them yet. To solve this problem the best way I could, I grabbed a book from their library and began reading it to a larger group; this way everyone felt involved. Not everyone came over to listen to me read, but greeted me in their own way and on their own time. At circle time while the teacher was helping everyone spell their name, there was one child that stood out in particular. His name is Tyrek. Jessica, another student in the practicum with me, had been working with him for a month before me. Some of the teachers think he may have autism because of his severe lack of social ability, control, and speech. My first attempt at distracting him so he did not disturb any of the other children did not last long. His attention span last only mere seconds. He did not answer to his name when any of the teachers called him and he had a habit of running out the door whenever he had the chance. When Jessica arrived and began working with him, she still had problems with him when she pulled him to the side but had gained some control and trust since he had been acustomed to her for little over a month. I monitored Jess while she dealt with him today to see what I could do when she left and I would be the one working with him. During play time she brought him aside with a small box of toys and played with him. She also helped him to stay still longer than he normally does. Tyrek has a counselor that comes in each day to work with him on his social and cognitive ability. I look forward to working with Tyrek as much as possible.
I felt nervous all over again today because I had to get used to a new group of children. I went to the Maryville site located only minutes away from Canisius. When I got there I had the same reaction from all of the children. They were amazed with my height and wanted to get to know as much as possible about me immediately. I have to say that these kids today compared to yesterday were 100 times more rambunctious than ever. Between both teachers and I we had to break up fights, tend to tears, and deal with petty arguments to exhaust anyone for a lifetime. They were real good kids but I knew I would have to put my foot down harder with them. Their daily schedule is similar to the 1485 site. They began the day by counting how many boys and girls were in the class at their circle time and had play time soon after. I took the same approach as yesterday and mingled with as many kids as I could at once. One particular girl Amaya latched on to me the minute she saw me and did not want to share me with anyone else. It was a challenge breaking away from her so I could meet everyone else. There were three boys today that consistently disobeyed every rule and had to sit in time out before they could play outside. I am still learning names, and at this moment I can not remember them. One of the boys became irritated with me half way through the day because I was on his case at all times. I took into consideration that he had just gotten over a cold and he missed his mother, but I did not let him get away with antagonizing the other children. This preschool will be the hardest by far out of the two that I've been to so far. I wonder what Langfield will be like?? The second half of the day was spent on the playground for about 20 minutes, a hour and a half nap, story time, snack time, and then time to leave on the bus. Before my next visit I plan on scheming up ways to better handle the ongoing chaos that goes on in their classroom. Each child responds so differently so it will be a tough challenge.
Today I returned to the Maryville preschool. All of the children were happy to see me again. When I got there everyone just finished up their breakfast and wanted me to hold their hands on the way back to the classroom. Calvion and Markel made a scene everywhere we went today. From the playground to circle time to nap time, they had to be told to be quiet or sit down numerous times today. Markel is rambunctious but he is easier to deal with out of the two. Calvion on the other hand was constantly moody and wanted nothing other than to go home to his mother. Whenever I asked him to come to me he gave me nothing but attitude and pouting. Needless to say Calvion was my main focus today. At first I tried hanging his playground priviledges above his head so to speak if he did not behave. This did not go over so well. He exclaimed that he did not care and that he was going to go outside if he wanted. Once we all went outside he was immediately told to sit and the corner and he began to cry. I came over to talk and explain why he was sitting. He didn't say anything at first but then decided he may want to get on my good side if he ever wanted to play, so he sat on my lap. After the playground we went back inside for reading time and then lunch. Calvion continued to argue and hit other kids (not always due to his initiation) which resulted in me pulling him aside once again. Calvion only whined and held his head down when I asked for an explanation of his behavior. During nap time he decided to draw all over his hands and legs with a blue marker. When he found out it wasn't going to come out as easy as he thought it would he began crying. This was the final straw for him and decided that he would stick by me the rest of the day and not get into any more trouble. He followed me everywhere I went in the classroom. Unfortunately he had one more run in with another student and had to sit in time out. He didn't cry this time realizing what he had done wrong. At the end of the day he was very quiet and ready to go home. The teacher pinned a note on the back of his shirt explaining the marker all over his body and his behavior throughout the day. I asked Calvion to promise to me to behave tomorrow and everyday from here on out even when I am at other preschools. He gave me a simple nod, but I know there is more to come from him.
The kids at the Langfield preschool had an easy going start to their morning. After their sausage, toast, and milk, it was time for circle time. Circle time went pretty smooth. Their were a few misbehaving children in the group, but nothing out of the ordinary. Instead of taking the children to the playground on the school grounds, the teachers decided to take everyone to the park down the street. I was very impressed how everyone followed the rules on our way to the park. Everyone was paired up with another child without letting go of each other's hand, and no one ran into the street. The playground took alot of energy out of the kids not to mention the fact that it was almost 90 degrees at the time. Trouble arose when we got back because of the dehydration and restlessness. The kids were pushing one another in line to get their water. After they got their water it was play time. Almost have the class ended up in trouble for hitting or ended up crying. Lunch time barely contained the ongoing madness since we got back from the park. Nap time could not have come soon enough because there were a number of worn out preschoolers. All but two kids would fall asleep. Cheyenne and Elijah wouldn't stay still for anyone. Cheyenne eventually calmed down, but I had to speak with Elijah numerous times during nap time. While they were getting their mats for nap time Elijah ran away from every teacher that tried to get him to get his mat. I had to pick him up and put him in his designated spot. He eventually fell asleep but had to sit in time out when we went back outside. This is the most trouble I have ever seen him in. I made a note to stick close by to him for the rest of the day. Tomorrow I will be coming back to Langfield to attend the class field trip. We will be going to the Buffalo Zoo from 9:30 am till 12:30 pm. Everyone has been talking about it all day. I could tell they were trying their hardest to be on their best behavior today in fear of being forbidden to attend tomorrows trip.
Today I attended a field trip to the Buffalo Zoo with the preschoolers from the Langfield site. Everyone was excited this morning and ready to get moving. After breakfast was circle time. I never noticed but when we sang our songs in the circle almost every girl participated and close to none of the boys did. Maybe one or two out of the 8 eight boys sang along. I will be paying attention to this trend next week to see if it still continues. I also noticed that everyone was exceptionally good before we headed out to the bus because there were parents present. When Ms. Wilk told everyone to quiet down everyone closed their mouths within seconds. Once we got to the zoo everyone was excited to see the lions and the snakes. There were about 10 to 15 other schools that scheduled to visit the zoo the same day as us when we got there so it was very crouded. I was proud of our kids because they all held each other's hands and followed directions like they were supposed to. Once we got in the zoo things got a little hectic. Every exhibit all the kids ran around pushing and shoving at times to get a good spot to see the animals. A couple of the kids had to use the bathroom after claiming they didn't need to use it when we left the school. Some did not make it to the bathroom in time. Before we left we went on the carousel which they all wanted to do at the beginning. When we got back we had lunch and then watched a movie. Nap time was especially hard for Malachi and Elijah today. Elijah's mother had to be called and even at her request he still acted out. He had to be pulled out of the classroom by another teacher and had a stern talking to. He came back and laid on his mat without a problem. Malachi's mat had to be taken away from him because he was trying to rip it. He continued to talk after having his mat away and was sent to the next room to sit by himself. After nap time, Malachi and Elijah were told that they could not participate during playground time because of their behavior. This news was soon followed by tears. I sat with the both of them during their time outs and explained why they were sitting and not playing. They both ended up falling asleep in my lap because they didn't get much of it during nap time. When their parents came to pick them up they were very disappointed in them. I expect to see an enourmous improvement in the both of them by next week. They have been put under strict probation by the teachers and have been promised that they will not attend the next field trip if their behavior stays the way it has been.
Revision [1386]
Edited on 2007-06-04 05:27:59 by BrandonSeniorAdditions:
Monday, June 4, 2007
8.5 hours
8.5 hours
Revision [1383]
Edited on 2007-06-01 11:17:38 by BrandonSeniorAdditions:
Friday, June 1, 2007
Today I attended a field trip to the Buffalo Zoo with the preschoolers from the Langfield site. Everyone was excited this morning and ready to get moving. After breakfast was circle time. I never noticed but when we sang our songs in the circle almost every girl participated and close to none of the boys did. Maybe one or two out of the 8 eight boys sang along. I will be paying attention to this trend next week to see if it still continues. I also noticed that everyone was exceptionally good before we headed out to the bus because there were parents present. When Ms. Wilk told everyone to quiet down everyone closed their mouths within seconds. Once we got to the zoo everyone was excited to see the lions and the snakes. There were about 10 to 15 other schools that scheduled to visit the zoo the same day as us when we got there so it was very crouded. I was proud of our kids because they all held each other's hands and followed directions like they were supposed to. Once we got in the zoo things got a little hectic. Every exhibit all the kids ran around pushing and shoving at times to get a good spot to see the animals. A couple of the kids had to use the bathroom after claiming they didn't need to use it when we left the school. Some did not make it to the bathroom in time. Before we left we went on the carousel which they all wanted to do at the beginning. When we got back we had lunch and then watched a movie. Nap time was especially hard for Malachi and Elijah today. Elijah's mother had to be called and even at her request he still acted out. He had to be pulled out of the classroom by another teacher and had a stern talking to. He came back and laid on his mat without a problem. Malachi's mat had to be taken away from him because he was trying to rip it. He continued to talk after having his mat away and was sent to the next room to sit by himself. After nap time, Malachi and Elijah were told that they could not participate during playground time because of their behavior. This news was soon followed by tears. I sat with the both of them during their time outs and explained why they were sitting and not playing. They both ended up falling asleep in my lap because they didn't get much of it during nap time. When their parents came to pick them up they were very disappointed in them. I expect to see an enourmous improvement in the both of them by next week. They have been put under strict probation by the teachers and have been promised that they will not attend the next field trip if their behavior stays the way it has been.
Today I attended a field trip to the Buffalo Zoo with the preschoolers from the Langfield site. Everyone was excited this morning and ready to get moving. After breakfast was circle time. I never noticed but when we sang our songs in the circle almost every girl participated and close to none of the boys did. Maybe one or two out of the 8 eight boys sang along. I will be paying attention to this trend next week to see if it still continues. I also noticed that everyone was exceptionally good before we headed out to the bus because there were parents present. When Ms. Wilk told everyone to quiet down everyone closed their mouths within seconds. Once we got to the zoo everyone was excited to see the lions and the snakes. There were about 10 to 15 other schools that scheduled to visit the zoo the same day as us when we got there so it was very crouded. I was proud of our kids because they all held each other's hands and followed directions like they were supposed to. Once we got in the zoo things got a little hectic. Every exhibit all the kids ran around pushing and shoving at times to get a good spot to see the animals. A couple of the kids had to use the bathroom after claiming they didn't need to use it when we left the school. Some did not make it to the bathroom in time. Before we left we went on the carousel which they all wanted to do at the beginning. When we got back we had lunch and then watched a movie. Nap time was especially hard for Malachi and Elijah today. Elijah's mother had to be called and even at her request he still acted out. He had to be pulled out of the classroom by another teacher and had a stern talking to. He came back and laid on his mat without a problem. Malachi's mat had to be taken away from him because he was trying to rip it. He continued to talk after having his mat away and was sent to the next room to sit by himself. After nap time, Malachi and Elijah were told that they could not participate during playground time because of their behavior. This news was soon followed by tears. I sat with the both of them during their time outs and explained why they were sitting and not playing. They both ended up falling asleep in my lap because they didn't get much of it during nap time. When their parents came to pick them up they were very disappointed in them. I expect to see an enourmous improvement in the both of them by next week. They have been put under strict probation by the teachers and have been promised that they will not attend the next field trip if their behavior stays the way it has been.
Revision [1382]
Edited on 2007-05-31 11:39:08 by BrandonSeniorAdditions:
Thursday, May 31, 2007
The kids at the Langfield preschool had an easy going start to their morning. After their sausage, toast, and milk, it was time for circle time. Circle time went pretty smooth. Their were a few misbehaving children in the group, but nothing out of the ordinary. Instead of taking the children to the playground on the school grounds, the teachers decided to take everyone to the park down the street. I was very impressed how everyone followed the rules on our way to the park. Everyone was paired up with another child without letting go of each other's hand, and no one ran into the street. The playground took alot of energy out of the kids not to mention the fact that it was almost 90 degrees at the time. Trouble arose when we got back because of the dehydration and restlessness. The kids were pushing one another in line to get their water. After they got their water it was play time. Almost have the class ended up in trouble for hitting or ended up crying. Lunch time barely contained the ongoing madness since we got back from the park. Nap time could not have come soon enough because there were a number of worn out preschoolers. All but two kids would fall asleep. Cheyenne and Elijah wouldn't stay still for anyone. Cheyenne eventually calmed down, but I had to speak with Elijah numerous times during nap time. While they were getting their mats for nap time Elijah ran away from every teacher that tried to get him to get his mat. I had to pick him up and put him in his designated spot. He eventually fell asleep but had to sit in time out when we went back outside. This is the most trouble I have ever seen him in. I made a note to stick close by to him for the rest of the day. Tomorrow I will be coming back to Langfield to attend the class field trip. We will be going to the Buffalo Zoo from 9:30 am till 12:30 pm. Everyone has been talking about it all day. I could tell they were trying their hardest to be on their best behavior today in fear of being forbidden to attend tomorrows trip.
The kids at the Langfield preschool had an easy going start to their morning. After their sausage, toast, and milk, it was time for circle time. Circle time went pretty smooth. Their were a few misbehaving children in the group, but nothing out of the ordinary. Instead of taking the children to the playground on the school grounds, the teachers decided to take everyone to the park down the street. I was very impressed how everyone followed the rules on our way to the park. Everyone was paired up with another child without letting go of each other's hand, and no one ran into the street. The playground took alot of energy out of the kids not to mention the fact that it was almost 90 degrees at the time. Trouble arose when we got back because of the dehydration and restlessness. The kids were pushing one another in line to get their water. After they got their water it was play time. Almost have the class ended up in trouble for hitting or ended up crying. Lunch time barely contained the ongoing madness since we got back from the park. Nap time could not have come soon enough because there were a number of worn out preschoolers. All but two kids would fall asleep. Cheyenne and Elijah wouldn't stay still for anyone. Cheyenne eventually calmed down, but I had to speak with Elijah numerous times during nap time. While they were getting their mats for nap time Elijah ran away from every teacher that tried to get him to get his mat. I had to pick him up and put him in his designated spot. He eventually fell asleep but had to sit in time out when we went back outside. This is the most trouble I have ever seen him in. I made a note to stick close by to him for the rest of the day. Tomorrow I will be coming back to Langfield to attend the class field trip. We will be going to the Buffalo Zoo from 9:30 am till 12:30 pm. Everyone has been talking about it all day. I could tell they were trying their hardest to be on their best behavior today in fear of being forbidden to attend tomorrows trip.
Revision [1381]
Edited on 2007-05-30 13:43:17 by BrandonSeniorAdditions:
Wednesday, May 30, 2007
Today I returned to the Maryville preschool. All of the children were happy to see me again. When I got there everyone just finished up their breakfast and wanted me to hold their hands on the way back to the classroom. Calvion and Markel made a scene everywhere we went today. From the playground to circle time to nap time, they had to be told to be quiet or sit down numerous times today. Markel is rambunctious but he is easier to deal with out of the two. Calvion on the other hand was constantly moody and wanted nothing other than to go home to his mother. Whenever I asked him to come to me he gave me nothing but attitude and pouting. Needless to say Calvion was my main focus today. At first I tried hanging his playground priviledges above his head so to speak if he did not behave. This did not go over so well. He exclaimed that he did not care and that he was going to go outside if he wanted. Once we all went outside he was immediately told to sit and the corner and he began to cry. I came over to talk and explain why he was sitting. He didn't say anything at first but then decided he may want to get on my good side if he ever wanted to play, so he sat on my lap. After the playground we went back inside for reading time and then lunch. Calvion continued to argue and hit other kids (not always due to his initiation) which resulted in me pulling him aside once again. Calvion only whined and held his head down when I asked for an explanation of his behavior. During nap time he decided to draw all over his hands and legs with a blue marker. When he found out it wasn't going to come out as easy as he thought it would he began crying. This was the final straw for him and decided that he would stick by me the rest of the day and not get into any more trouble. He followed me everywhere I went in the classroom. Unfortunately he had one more run in with another student and had to sit in time out. He didn't cry this time realizing what he had done wrong. At the end of the day he was very quiet and ready to go home. The teacher pinned a note on the back of his shirt explaining the marker all over his body and his behavior throughout the day. I asked Calvion to promise to me to behave tomorrow and everyday from here on out even when I am at other preschools. He gave me a simple nod, but I know there is more to come from him.
Today I returned to the Maryville preschool. All of the children were happy to see me again. When I got there everyone just finished up their breakfast and wanted me to hold their hands on the way back to the classroom. Calvion and Markel made a scene everywhere we went today. From the playground to circle time to nap time, they had to be told to be quiet or sit down numerous times today. Markel is rambunctious but he is easier to deal with out of the two. Calvion on the other hand was constantly moody and wanted nothing other than to go home to his mother. Whenever I asked him to come to me he gave me nothing but attitude and pouting. Needless to say Calvion was my main focus today. At first I tried hanging his playground priviledges above his head so to speak if he did not behave. This did not go over so well. He exclaimed that he did not care and that he was going to go outside if he wanted. Once we all went outside he was immediately told to sit and the corner and he began to cry. I came over to talk and explain why he was sitting. He didn't say anything at first but then decided he may want to get on my good side if he ever wanted to play, so he sat on my lap. After the playground we went back inside for reading time and then lunch. Calvion continued to argue and hit other kids (not always due to his initiation) which resulted in me pulling him aside once again. Calvion only whined and held his head down when I asked for an explanation of his behavior. During nap time he decided to draw all over his hands and legs with a blue marker. When he found out it wasn't going to come out as easy as he thought it would he began crying. This was the final straw for him and decided that he would stick by me the rest of the day and not get into any more trouble. He followed me everywhere I went in the classroom. Unfortunately he had one more run in with another student and had to sit in time out. He didn't cry this time realizing what he had done wrong. At the end of the day he was very quiet and ready to go home. The teacher pinned a note on the back of his shirt explaining the marker all over his body and his behavior throughout the day. I asked Calvion to promise to me to behave tomorrow and everyday from here on out even when I am at other preschools. He gave me a simple nod, but I know there is more to come from him.
Revision [1380]
Edited on 2007-05-29 20:58:12 by BrandonSeniorAdditions:
Tuesday, May 29, 2007
Today I went back to where I started, at 1485. When I entered the classroom everyone was finishing up their breakfast and getting ready for circle time. I was not bombarded by the children this time because they were used to my face even though they had not seen me in a week. As I expected dealing with Tyrek, who the teachers believe has some form of autism, was a challenge. During circle time he did not sit in his designated area like all the other children. He was too focused on the two blocks Mr. Michael (the teacher) had forbid him to play with right then. I knew I would have to take a more direct approach in dealing with Tyrek so I took him to the side and sat him in my lap. I started distracted him with my keys and while we weren't playing with my keys, I would point to Mr. Michael to see if he would look at him. It didn't work all that great but I did manage to get him to stay in my lap and pay attention to me. The children here realize that Tyrek is different from them and that he needs special attention. This is why none of them displayed any jealously because I spent most of the day with him. During play time I had to distract Tyrek from getting too close to the fence where the big dog was barking ferociously on the other side. I managed to play with the other children at some points on the play ground but most of the time I was busy with Tyrek. A different therapist came to see Tyrek during lunch time today. She did not say much other than check to see if he was keeping food in his mouth and not swallowing it. Tyrek in the past has had snack and then hours later been picked up by the therapist still with the same food in his mouth. Other than that she sat there next to us monitored him and took notes. I ran as much energy as I could out of Tyrek, by the time nap time came he fell asleep fast. The rest of the day was easier handling him. I am learning a lot about behavioral challenged preschoolers and I look forward continuing my work with Tyrek.
Today I went back to where I started, at 1485. When I entered the classroom everyone was finishing up their breakfast and getting ready for circle time. I was not bombarded by the children this time because they were used to my face even though they had not seen me in a week. As I expected dealing with Tyrek, who the teachers believe has some form of autism, was a challenge. During circle time he did not sit in his designated area like all the other children. He was too focused on the two blocks Mr. Michael (the teacher) had forbid him to play with right then. I knew I would have to take a more direct approach in dealing with Tyrek so I took him to the side and sat him in my lap. I started distracted him with my keys and while we weren't playing with my keys, I would point to Mr. Michael to see if he would look at him. It didn't work all that great but I did manage to get him to stay in my lap and pay attention to me. The children here realize that Tyrek is different from them and that he needs special attention. This is why none of them displayed any jealously because I spent most of the day with him. During play time I had to distract Tyrek from getting too close to the fence where the big dog was barking ferociously on the other side. I managed to play with the other children at some points on the play ground but most of the time I was busy with Tyrek. A different therapist came to see Tyrek during lunch time today. She did not say much other than check to see if he was keeping food in his mouth and not swallowing it. Tyrek in the past has had snack and then hours later been picked up by the therapist still with the same food in his mouth. Other than that she sat there next to us monitored him and took notes. I ran as much energy as I could out of Tyrek, by the time nap time came he fell asleep fast. The rest of the day was easier handling him. I am learning a lot about behavioral challenged preschoolers and I look forward continuing my work with Tyrek.
Revision [1377]
Edited on 2007-05-24 16:14:08 by BrandonSeniorAdditions:
Thursday, May 24, 2007
Today was my first day at the Langfield preschool in the Bethal Head Start program. When I arrived this morning I did not get the same response that I received from the last two preschools. The children seemed to be visually analyzing me before they would attempt to begin asking me questions. When I arrived they were finishing up their breakfast and were preparing for circle time, a routine that the other sites share. During circle time, the teacher introduced me to the kids as "Mr. Brandon" and soon after each child increasingly became distracted at my presence while the teacher was trying to get them to sing along to their daily circle songs. In the middle of each song one or two kids would come up to me and ask me my name again and what I was doing in their classroom. I'yana was one of the first to approach me. I have never met any 4 year old who speaks their mind like her. She said exactly what was on her mind and held nothing back. Needless to say she is a handful and often had run ins with the teachers about behavioral problems. All of the other boys and girls were rambunctious at times and needed constant reminder to be quiet and sit still at certain times. I was very impressed with the way Ms. White handled everything. She is very sweet but firmly puts her foot down when necessary. After circle time and play time, the kids went outside on the playground to release much of the energy they had built up. Out of all three preschools I would say that the Langfield children were the most competitive at every game they played. Everyone had to be the best and there was no accepting of second place. These attitudes led to some shed tears and many cuts and scrapes. After lunch it was nap time. About half of the kids would not go to sleep for anything. I had to sit by them most of the time I was there before my break and keep them from moving too far away from there nap spots and from bothering one another. After nap, reading time and snack time followed. By now everyone was more at ease and paid better attention. I gained the respect of every child and had no personal problems with any individual child. When parents came to pick up their kids each child was sent away with a heartfelt hug from each of their peers. Underneath all of the competiveness and bickering lied a strong sense of care for one another. I found out today that this is the only preschool that is open on Friday so I may be taking on another day. They are going to the zoo next Friday and I may be going if it is in their budget. I am excited to continue working with these kids and observing the unique distinctions between all three preschools over the next 3 to 4 weeks.
Today was my first day at the Langfield preschool in the Bethal Head Start program. When I arrived this morning I did not get the same response that I received from the last two preschools. The children seemed to be visually analyzing me before they would attempt to begin asking me questions. When I arrived they were finishing up their breakfast and were preparing for circle time, a routine that the other sites share. During circle time, the teacher introduced me to the kids as "Mr. Brandon" and soon after each child increasingly became distracted at my presence while the teacher was trying to get them to sing along to their daily circle songs. In the middle of each song one or two kids would come up to me and ask me my name again and what I was doing in their classroom. I'yana was one of the first to approach me. I have never met any 4 year old who speaks their mind like her. She said exactly what was on her mind and held nothing back. Needless to say she is a handful and often had run ins with the teachers about behavioral problems. All of the other boys and girls were rambunctious at times and needed constant reminder to be quiet and sit still at certain times. I was very impressed with the way Ms. White handled everything. She is very sweet but firmly puts her foot down when necessary. After circle time and play time, the kids went outside on the playground to release much of the energy they had built up. Out of all three preschools I would say that the Langfield children were the most competitive at every game they played. Everyone had to be the best and there was no accepting of second place. These attitudes led to some shed tears and many cuts and scrapes. After lunch it was nap time. About half of the kids would not go to sleep for anything. I had to sit by them most of the time I was there before my break and keep them from moving too far away from there nap spots and from bothering one another. After nap, reading time and snack time followed. By now everyone was more at ease and paid better attention. I gained the respect of every child and had no personal problems with any individual child. When parents came to pick up their kids each child was sent away with a heartfelt hug from each of their peers. Underneath all of the competiveness and bickering lied a strong sense of care for one another. I found out today that this is the only preschool that is open on Friday so I may be taking on another day. They are going to the zoo next Friday and I may be going if it is in their budget. I am excited to continue working with these kids and observing the unique distinctions between all three preschools over the next 3 to 4 weeks.
Revision [1375]
Edited on 2007-05-23 14:03:57 by BrandonSeniorAdditions:
I felt nervous all over again today because I had to get used to a new group of children. I went to the Maryville site located only minutes away from Canisius. When I got there I had the same reaction from all of the children. They were amazed with my height and wanted to get to know as much as possible about me immediately. I have to say that these kids today compared to yesterday were 100 times more rambunctious than ever. Between both teachers and I we had to break up fights, tend to tears, and deal with petty arguments to exhaust anyone for a lifetime. They were real good kids but I knew I would have to put my foot down harder with them. Their daily schedule is similar to the 1485 site. They began the day by counting how many boys and girls were in the class at their circle time and had play time soon after. I took the same approach as yesterday and mingled with as many kids as I could at once. One particular girl Amaya latched on to me the minute she saw me and did not want to share me with anyone else. It was a challenge breaking away from her so I could meet everyone else. There were three boys today that consistently disobeyed every rule and had to sit in time out before they could play outside. I am still learning names, and at this moment I can not remember them. One of the boys became irritated with me half way through the day because I was on his case at all times. I took into consideration that he had just gotten over a cold and he missed his mother, but I did not let him get away with antagonizing the other children. This preschool will be the hardest by far out of the two that I've been to so far. I wonder what Langfield will be like?? The second half of the day was spent on the playground for about 20 minutes, a hour and a half nap, story time, snack time, and then time to leave on the bus. Before my next visit I plan on scheming up ways to better handle the ongoing chaos that goes on in their classroom. Each child responds so differently so it will be a tough challenge.
