I.

Observation 1:
Setting

II.

Grade:
Pre-K

III.

Students:
17 boys, 12 girls

IV.

Setting:
Mrs. Conniffs Pre-K Class at St. Matthias Catholic School
Multi-age (4-5) classroom, 29 students, 1 head teacher, 2 teachers aides.

V.

Pre-Observation:
The purpose of this observation is to go to the natural setting of where the children are
and observe how the setting of the classroom and placement of the furniture affect the
way the students learn. I used the sample checklist from the sample observation given to
us.

VI.

Data:

Checklist:

yes

no

Comments

1. Whole Groups
Circle

In front of the smartboard.

2. Work Tables

4 work tables next to circle

rug.

3. Alternative Spaces

The children have certain

locations where they can
read, play, have a safe spot
and can eat.

4. Center Areas

Reading center, puzzle

center, kitchen center, doll
center, lego center.

5. Classroom Library

Certain books for children to

look at by themselves and
certain books that teachers
have in their closet to read to
students. A variety of books
from different holidays and
seasons to feelings and
vehicles.

6. Active Play Area

Not a specific area. The

entire classroom minus the
kitchen area is a place for
the children to actively play.

7. Student Cubbies

Designated locker areas in

each shelf for student.

8. Storage System of
Folders that stay at
school

The teachers keep the

folders with them.

VII.

Analysis:
This classroom is very well organized and has a great layout for the childrens everyday
schedule. All 29 students are able to fit in one classroom comfortably and have enough
room to play, learn and work on certain projects. The doors, walls, and windows are
covered with projects and pictures to let parents and new friends to see how these
children are doing and who they are. Each child has succumb to routine and knows what
to do at drop off. Each child knows the routine of being able to play in the morning, but
when the rocketship timer goes off, its time to clean up and hurry to the rug for circle
time. The play kitchen center leaves the kids enough room to explore their imagination as
well as the lego center. The four tables are for dolls, drawing and playdough in the
morning, which give a lot of space to create and recreate new and old ideas. Overall, this
classroom seems very well managed and set up for the preschool class.

VIII: Recommendations:
Although I like the setup of the classroom, I feel that certain aspects of the room could be
changed to make it better for the children to learn. I would like to add another rug with
two shelves around it so that the kids can go sit in privacy while reading and not get
distracted by the other centers. I also believe that the tables should be not all in rows but
one facing the other two so that the children can view everyone and make it a more
memorable learning experience. I also would like to add carpeting instead of tiles because
it would be easier to vacuum up a mess instead of bringing a mop each time. When the

children play rough, it might even be safer to have carpeting if they were to fall. I would
also like to add more than one easel for the children to play with at the same time so that
they can use their own imaginations and share their drawings with one another.
IX.

Post Observation:
These past 10 weeks at St. Matthias Catholic School have taught me a lot, which I will be
able to incorporate in my future classroom. I am grateful for all the staff who welcomed
me into their school and helped make such memorable moments, which made me feel
comfortable and like an actual teacher in the field. With this experience, I will use it in
my day to day time at work and use it as an advantage for my classes that are related to
the education field. Overall, I am thankful for the opportunities I received from student
teaching at this school and would never want to change which classroom I was placed in.

X.

Citations:
Setting Up Your Preschool Learning Centers. (n.d.). Retrieved December 3, 2016, from
https://www.kaplanco.com/ii/preschool-learning-centers