Aqeedah Fakee

222150068

Faculty of Education

Bachelor of Education: Foundation Phase Year 1

Subject: Professional Practice 1

Subject code: PPR151S

Assignment: Observation of the Grade R Classroom
Lecturer: Mr Sitoyi
Due date; 4th September 2022
Mark: 100
Context of the School

1. The school is based in Honeyside road, Crawford.

2. Social support- the school gets donations from the parents when they have
fundraisers and all the money that they raise goes to the teachers- assistants salary.
3. The school is extremely well-resourced. They have plenty outdoor and indoor
equipment such as toys, books, puzzles, hula hoops, etc.
4. Bronwyn Collop completed a three-year diploma course at the Sally Davies College
of Education. In her second year they amalgamated with Cape Town College of
Education, which is now called (Cape Peninsula University of Technology). Ten
years later she upgraded and did an advance certificate in education.
5. She has been teaching for 26 years.
6. Thrice a week.
7. She does Lesson planning and prepares every day for the next lesson.
 Observation of the school environment
1.2 Indoor environment

Children’sd tv
Teacher’s desk
portfolio desk
Teacher Theme
off limit spends
most time table

window
k

Child table

Meeting mat
window

window
Child table

Used most

Class
door

window
Child table
Child table Child table
k
k k
window

Block play
window

area
Construction play Book area
area

(Boys spend most Maths area

time)
window

Fantasy play area

(Girls spend most

Puzzle area time)

Door to
toilet and
locker Locker room toilet
room
 3.Outdoor environment

swings
Hula
playhouse hoop
games

bean bags game

Jungle
Hula
hoop gym

Shade area
(adult spend
Hula
most time)
hoop

Sandpit area
Bike and
play car
area
Trampoline (children spend most time)

Pet area
(rabbit and
tortoise)
Water play
area(washing toys,
Hopscotch game babies etc)
10
8 9
7

5 6
4
Tea play area
2 3 tire swin
gs
1
4.Daily class schedule

Daily Programme

08h00-08h15 Arrival
08h15-08h25 Class register
08h25-08h50 Greeting and morning ring
08h50-09h35 Maths focus (whole group)
09h35-10h05 Life Skills
10h05-10h20 Toilet time
10h20-10h40 Snack time
10h40-11h30 Outdoor play
11h30-11h45 Toilet time
11h45-12h00 Fruit time
12h00-12h30 Language Focus
12h30-12h45 Storytime
12h45 Departure/ home time

 There is approximately 15 minutes for toilet routine, and it occurs twice a day.
I would not do anything differently because there is enough time for the
children to get done, there are 29 children and 12 toilets, so it all works out
and it does not take long as there are enough toilets to supervise the children
whilst the other children wait for their turn to come.
 Free play occurs after snack time, it is about 45-50 minutes long, because
they want the children to discover new things and have fun.
 The teacher follows this routine very closely as she has been following it for
the past three-years.
Observation of one child

the child that I selected with the help of the teacher is a quiet girl. She is extremely shy.
when a teacher asks her a question, she is afraid to answer and she says, ‘’I do not know if it
is right teacher.’’ She would continue looking around at the children watching her and
become overwhelmed until the teacher encourages her to give an answer and says, She
always focuses and engages herself when it comes to activities, when it is Maths and
Language lessons she is the first one to get done and she would understand all the
concepts well and ask the teacher, ‘’can I play in an area where no one can see me, I don’t
want them to watch me.’’ She is not good at socialising with other children as she always
says ‘’ There is no one to play with me at home. She also takes long to answer her peers if
they ask her something for example the one girl asked her if she could use her dough, she
will look at the child for a minute then answer her and say, ‘’yes you can.’’ During outdoor
play she is afraid of talking to children and a teacher would encourage her to play with
someone and she would say, ‘’ what if she does not want to play with me, because she has
a friend already.’’ When she has made a friend during outdoor play, she would constantly
ask her friend, ‘’do you still want to play with me,’’ ‘’do you want to go play on the trampoline
with me there is no one there now.’’ She gets shy when people focus on her therefore, she
likes it when an area is empty and then she would proceed to play there until children start
coming back.

Observation of a group child

The group of children are in the playground, conversing in the big playhouse deciding to play
a family game, there are two boys and three girls. The girls then fetch all the equipment’s
that are needed in the house such as the baby dolls, kitchen set, iron board and the
telephone. The boys remain on their place and wait till the girls are done so that they can
decide who must be who. the two boys are arguing on who should be the daddy. The one
boy says, ‘’I must be the daddy because I am taller than you.’’ The other boy argues and
says, ‘’No, you do not have to be tall to be a daddy.’’ They would continue arguing until the
taller boy says, ‘’Okay, fine you can be the daddy then and I will be the baby brother.’’ He
then got excited and looked at the girls and then they began discussing on who should be
who. The one girl would say ‘’I want to be the mummy because I have a baby in my hand.’’
The second girl would say, ‘’ I want to be the sister then.’’ The third girl argues and says, ‘’I
want to be the sister, you can’t be the sister.’’ They continue arguing until the boys says,
‘’you can both be the sister, it does not matter.’’ The girls then look at each other for a couple
of seconds and then agrees and continue to start the game. The one boy, ‘’daddy’’
converses with the ‘’mommy’’ and says ‘’please make the food we are all hungry.’’ The
mommy replies, ‘’Okay, I will make food for all of us.’’ They all get excited and eat the food
and say, ‘’Thank you mommy the food was nice.’’ The girl would get happy and make more
stuff

Observation in each learning area of the classroom

Emergent Maths lesson

At first, the children stared at one another not knowing what was being taught, but then when
they understood, they began sharing and comparing their answers to their fellow classmates
to see whether their answers were the same or if they were different. The teacher takes note
of all the children and ensures that they understand what is being taught by asking questions
and repeating the same thing twice. The items are adapted twice a week. The children used
their fingers to count to five with the teacher and then backwards by putting their fingers
down until they reached one. Most of the children like interacting and sharing their answers.
The children are not allowed to touch anything unless the teacher gives them permission. All
the children adhere to these guidelines because they know it is important to follow
instructions given by the teacher. Children can learn by manipulating objects and identifying
shapes and lines. The mathematics area allows children to think critically and solve
problems that occur in their daily lives. It also helps children to understand how numbers
work and how to count and measure things.

Life skills ring

The children are all excited and ready to do what the teacher instructs them to do. The
teacher pays heed to all the children and ensures that they understand what to do, whilst
enjoying themselves. The items are changed every day. The children like manipulating the
equipment and testing its abilities. For example, they will take the hula hoop and try out
different things such as moving it around their waist, circling it around their arms, and lastly,
laying it on the ground and jumping in each hula hoop. The children love interacting with one
another during the life skills lesson, as they are excited to see what the next person is going
to do. The children are not allowed to touch the equipment unless given permission by the
teacher. They adhere to these guidelines as they know it was put in place for their safety.
The life skills area is relevant to the children as it moulds them to be independent and allows
them to deal with problems in their daily lives. The life skills ring supports children
developmentally by allowing children to think independently and makes them extremely
confident while boosting their self-esteem.

Morning ring

The children are excited and are always ready to share what news they have and answer
the teacher when she asks questions. The teacher ensures that all the children feel included
and that she asks each child a question. The items are adapted once a week. The children
discover new things such as the names of pets, days of the week, and counting to 50. All the
children interact with one another as they share their stories of what happened during the
weekend. The guidelines are that if you have a question or want to share something, raise
your hand. They follow these guidelines as they know it is for the best. It is relevant as they
learn valuable things that will stay with them for the rest of their lives. The morning ring
supports the relationship between the teacher and children stronger, and it helps children
become confident while sharing news and thoughts. It also helps children to be confident
while making friends.

Emergent literacy lesson

The children sit quietly on the mat and listen attentively to what the teacher is reading to
them. The teacher asks the children questions during and after the storytelling lesson to
ensure they understand thoroughly. thrice a week. The children discover new words and
new objects, and they learn how to use the words and understand what the object that is
being spoken about is used for. All the children interact with one another as they compare
the story to something, like what happened in the book to something that happened. Sit
quietly on the mat and wait until the teacher asks you a question. It is relevant as the
children are introduced to a variety of words and rich vocabulary. The area supports a child
developmentally as it improves a child’s ability to speak effectively and construct sentences
with no trouble. It also helps children solve problems and understand the prints

End of the day/ ring activity

the children are quiet and ready for the story that the teacher will read to them. The teacher
asks them multiple questions and they would answer and compare it to their daily lives. The
items are adapted every day. The children discover new words and learn new facts which
excites them. The children always interact with one another and compare the story to reality.
The children must be quiet and only reply when teacher asks them a question. The children
develop strong communication skills and can construct sentences effectively. The area
supports a child developmentally by allowing them to express their thoughts and ideas and
not being afraid to speak up.

Art (Visual or Creative)

the children sit quietly on their mats outside, eagerly waiting till the teacher gives them
instructions to follow. The teacher ensures that each child understand what needs to be
done and ensures that they enjoy the lesson. The items are changed every week. There are
lots of exploratory play and discovery happening, the children are mixing the paint together
to see what colour its going to make and they are enjoying every bit of it. The children are
sharing paint with each other and giving ideas on what they can paint. The children must
have their aprons on before using paint to prevent the paint from going on their clothes. The
Art area is relevant for the children as it encourages them to experiment and discover new
things as well as having fun with their fellow classmates. The art area supports a child
developmentally by allowing them to use their imagination and encourages them to express
themselves and strengthen their fine motor skills.

Observation of the Adults in the Grade R environment

1. The teacher does one small group activity and three whole class activities during the
day.
2. The role of the assistant is to follow direct orders from the teacher, such as
supervising the children when the teacher is doing a small group activity, ensuring
that they are safe during outdoor play, and lastly, helping them if they need
assistance.
3. The teacher starts by playing a YouTube video regarding the topic. It makes the
children excited and keen to take note of all the trivial details. The teacher would also
sometimes ask questions regarding the topic to make it easier for them to understand
the following lesson.

4. On certain occasions, the teacher allows the slow child to pack up if they have not
completed their work and lets them complete it the next day. If the child did not follow
the instructions, for example, if the teacher told the child to draw two birds and the
child drew three, she would allow them to leave it so and explain to them that they
should follow the instructions the next time.

5. The teacher always listens to the children and allows them to express themselves.
The teacher gets to know all the children’s weaknesses during activities, so that she
can identify what the children are struggling with and help them by making it easier
for them to understand. The teacher ensures that all the children show her their
completed work and explains to her what they have done.

6. The teacher constantly asks the children questions to ensure that they understand.
The teacher also makes sure that each child always expresses his/her opinion,
especially during decision-making, and she is constantly listening to what each child
has to say.

7. I heard a good deal such as, "well done," "I knew you could do it," "excellent job,"
and "wow."

8. A teacher raising his or her voice and saying things like, "What did you just say?"
And do you have ears?

9. The teacher waits until all the children are present in the classroom. She would then
tell them all to stand up and shake their bodies and recite the morning prayer to
thank God. After the prayer, she asked them to list the class rules and asked them if
it was important to follow the rules.

10. The teacher would communicate with the children in a happy tone so that they could
be motivated and energized for the day. She would also walk around the classroom
and ask questions so they could be ready for the lesson.

11. Yes, they do. The teacher would ask the children, "How can we find out if there are
more purple or blue colours?" The children responded by saying, "Separate the
 purple colours from the blue colours and count them. Then we will know which one is
more."

12. They observe the children and ensure that each child is safe while enjoying
themselves by playing with all the given equipment/resources.

13. The teachers have a meeting after school to discuss the lesson for the next day.

14. Transmissive teaching occurred often, especially when the teacher was explaining a
new lesson to them or explaining activities to them. They had to listen and not say
anything. Participatory teaching occurs mostly during storytelling. For example, the
teacher will be reading a story but will also ask the children questions or allow the
children to be involved in the actions of the story.

General Observation

My first impression of the school was "wow." It looked pleasing and had a beautiful
environment. I was extremely shy because I saw lots of teachers interact with one another,
and it made me less confident to interact with them and get to know them. I was then
introduced to all the staff members and children. I felt at ease knowing that they all knew
who I was and what my purpose at the school was. The principal gave me a tour of the
school environment so that I could become familiar with my surroundings. Gradually, during
the second week, I became comfortable and aware of the environment. I began to interact
with the teachers as I do with my friends, and I became acquainted with all the children. I
was much more confident and felt like I was part of this school environment. The children
were close to me as I was a fresh face and they enjoyed my presence, especially during
outdoor play, because they were excited to show me what they could do with the equipment
I had been given. I became acquainted with my mentor's teaching method because, at first, I
was overwhelmed and didn't know what to do, but she made it easier for me to follow her
leads. I became excited about attending school every day to learn more about the
development of young children. It was intriguing to find out how smart they are and how fast
they can perceive information within a day. At one stage, I was so comfortable and confident
that the teacher asked if I could do a story-telling lesson for practice. Without hesitation, I
said yes and took the opportunity to prepare myself. I enjoyed my stay at the school as I
learned tons of new things.
Creative Activities

1. The teacher would give each child a small container with assorted coloured beads
and a pipe cleaner, which they used to place the beads on. They mixed and matched
all the colours and sizes and enjoyed the activity. The children were placed in groups
of four, and they were each given a piece of white paper and acrylic paint, to draw
whatever they imagined or whatever they saw in their surroundings. The kids were
given blank paper and crayons to colour with. When the teacher was teaching the
children letters, such as the letter "b", she would ask them to draw two things that
begin with the letter "p" and ask them to draw the letter "b" two times.

2. They had a fair amount of freedom. When the children were doing painting activities,
they were allowed to experiment with the assorted colours. The child would have a
separate container and mix one colour with another colour, seeing the outcome for
themselves. They were also given freedom to explore the different kinds of shapes
and sculptures they could make while playing with their playdough.

3. Drama happens once a week. The children go to the school’s hall where the drama
teacher pitches up and demonstrates to them a play on how to change their emotions
while acting out. This helps them to become confident. The dance occurred twice a
week, and the teacher would play a YouTube song, and they would dance according
to their own movements and then follow the teacher's lead. Music occurred once a
week and the children were placed in groups of four and were given one instrument
each to practice and play with.

4. Teacher-directed occurred every day, while child-led only happened when the
children were doing block play or playing in the sandpit. During child-led, the teacher
observed and listened to what the children were saying to each other.

Storytime

1. Playing a YouTube video — the teacher plays a video that focuses on the same topic
as the book. During the video, they gather knowledge, and the teacher would then
start with the story, which makes it easier for them to understand as they are familiar
 with the topic. Asking questions—before reading the book, the teacher asks the
children questions regarding the topic of the book. Singing a song – The teacher
sings a song to get all the children’s attention and ensures that it relates to the book.

2. The teacher reads to the children every day. She would choose a book that relates to
the theme that they are currently exploring.

3. They respond by comparing the stories to their real life, such as when the theme was
family, the teacher read a family book, and they would start by saying that they have
this number of people in their family, their parents live separate, and that they visit
their families during the weekend.

4. The teacher asks the children questions about the story, and they respond in the way
that they understand the story. The children also asked questions. When the teacher
said the word "pedestrian," the kids did not know what it meant, and they asked the
teacher, and she would explain it to them in a way that was easy to understand.
Reflections
11 April 2022

1. One thing that worked well today was

The principal gave me a tour of the school premises and introduced me to all the staff
members. I felt happy that they knew who I was and what my purpose at the school was.

2 One thing that was a struggle for me was

The struggle I experienced was coming out of my shell and interacting with all the
teachers and students, it was overwhelming because I was new to the environment.

3.One thing the children appeared to enjoy was

A fresh face to the school environment. they were so excited to show me around during
outdoor play, they could not contain their excitement.

4. The teacher in general on each day

The teacher was in a good mood and made me feel welcomed by giving me my own
personal space to sit and observe her lessons. The teacher taught the children
exceptionally well and knew what she was doing.

5. What I would do differently

I would try and interact more with the teachers and appear to look more confident and
energized the next day.

6. What I have learnt from the observation today

Grade R learners are adaptive learners, and they can collect lots of information and keep
it in their mind. They are also extremely smart at the same time.
12 April 2022

1. one thing that worked well today was

The children began to talk to me more often and they were comfortable with presence
around them.

2. One thing that was a struggle for me was

When the teacher left the class, the children were extremely noisy, and it was hard for me
to make them lower their volumes and settle them down.

3.One thing the children appeared to enjoy was

The children enjoyed outdoor play because I was playing fun games with them.

4.The teacher in general on each day

The teacher explained to me all the teaching methods she uses, and how she constructs
her lesson planning every day.

5.What I would do differently

I would ask the teacher more questions regarding her teaching career.

6.What I have learnt from the observation today

I have learnt that children love doing block play, and they hardly get bored while playing.
13 April 2022

1. one thing that worked well today was

I enjoyed helping the teacher prepare the ‘’my family’’ theme table, it was really fun and
the lesson that she taught regarding the theme was interesting and I wrote down lots of
ideas so I could make use of it in the future.

2. One thing that was a struggle for me was

It was difficult for me to ensure that each child understood the lesson because I had to go
to each child and ask them, if they did not, I had to explain it to them one by one.

3.One thing the children appeared to enjoy was

The children enjoyed the music lesson because they tried all the different instruments that
were made available for them

4.The teacher in general on each day

The teacher was not in a good mood because of all the noises that the children were
making while playing with the instruments.

5.What I would do differently

I would do more research on Grade R learners so that I could have more knowledge about
them.

6.What I have learnt from the observation today

I have learnt that Grade R children need to make lots of noise because they are still
young, and it is their way of having fun and enjoying themselves.
14 April 2022

1. one thing that worked well today was

I spent lots of time with the children as the teacher was running late and I had to fill in her
gap in the meanwhile, which was enjoyable.

2. One thing that was a struggle for me was

When the outdoor play was over it was difficult for me to get them to stand in a straight
line because they did not want to listen, and they were still talking to their friends.

3.One thing the children appeared to enjoy was

The children really enjoyed playing on the trampoline. They were all waiting in a que for
their chance to come.

4.The teacher in general on each day

The teacher was extremely stressed out today as she arrived late at school making her
late for the first lesson.

5.What I would do differently

Instruct the learners to stand in a straight line, starting from the smallest and ending with
the tallest child.

6.What I have learnt from the observation today

I have learnt that outdoor play is extremely important because it allows them to explore
the environment, interact with other children, improve their motor skills, and muscle
skills.
19 April 2022

1. one thing that worked well today was

The principal asked for my assistance to decorate the cupcakes and place it in a small
boxes and hand it out to the children and it turned out well.

2. One thing that was a struggle for me was

Interpreting conversations with the staff members, before the conversation died.

3.One thing the children appeared to enjoy was

The children enjoyed the storytelling lesson presented by the teacher and they also
enjoyed the questions that the teacher asked.

4.The teacher in general on each day

The teacher would constantly ensure if I were comfortable, and that no child was
bothering me unnecessarily.

5.What I would do differently

I would improve my communication skills, so that I do not become silent when uneasy
questions come my way.
6.What I have learnt from the observation today

I have learnt that children understand stories easier if the teacher starts by playing a video
or ask questions that relates to the book.
20 April 2022

1. one thing that worked well today was

I was planning to play duck-duck goose with the children during outdoor play, when the
bell rang, I immediately gathered the children and explained to them about the game as
some of them did not know what it was, however they enjoyed the game.

2. One thing that was a struggle for me was

The children were quite noisy during the art activity, they were all over the show so I
struggled with keeping them quiet so that the teacher could focus on the other learners.

3.One thing the children appeared to enjoy was

Doing multiple art activities and drawing pictures that came straight out of their
imagination. they also enjoyed painting and mixing the colours.

4.The teacher in general on each day

The teacher was a bit upset as her assistant was absent, so she could not focus 100%
and I was not much of a help because I did not know the children as well as the assistant.
5. what would I do differently

I would write more notes on how to do an art activity, and how to excite children during
these activities.
6.What I have learnt from the observation today

I have learnt that during group activities you need to have separate work or activities for
the other children who are still waiting for their turn, because if they have nothing to do
they will disrupt the class lesson/activity.
21 April 2022

1. one thing that worked well today was

The teacher asked me to read a story for the children and I was extremely excited, and it
all turned out well.
2. One thing that was a struggle for me was

Implementing a way to invite the children to the lesson I was not sure if I should ask
questions or sing a song that relates to the book.

3.One thing the children appeared to enjoy was

They enjoyed the storytelling lesson that I performed because they said it has been a long
time since someone new read to them.

4.The teacher in general on each day

At the end of the lesson the teacher explained to me where I went wrong and what I
should do next time to make it more successful.

5. what would I do differently

I would do more research on storytelling techniques to ensure that my next experience is

more memorable.

6.What I have learnt from the observation today

I have learnt that children compare the things that happen in the story to real life situations
and that is how they understand things easier.
22 April 2022

1. one thing that worked well today was

Refreshing the children’s mind about the work that was done during the week, and they
remembered majority of the work proving that they can remember information for a long
time.

2. One thing that was a struggle for me was

Saying goodbye to everyone as I began to have a close connection to them all.

3.One thing the children appeared to enjoy was

Rolling the letter ‘’m’’ with playdough.

4.The teacher in general on each day

The teacher was good at teaching the letter ‘m’ to the children.

5. what would I do differently

I would definitely watch YouTube videos about grade R learning to write letters because it
is difficult to explain to them how to draw it and as most children struggled to write/do it
with dough.

6.What I have learnt from the observation today

Teaching grade R children can be extremely fun and difficult t the same time, it all
depends on you as the teacher to make things easier for yourself and the children.
Declaration form