January 30th

No placement due to staff development day.

January 31st
What I did:
1. Signed in
2. Signed time sheet
3. Signed the inkind sheet? Whatever it is called
4. Washed my hands
5. Talked to Miss Gulfar
6. Made copies for Miss Gulfar
7. Cut felt pieces in half
8. Said good morning to the other staff
9. Said good morning to the first bus of children
10. Helped children find their owl with their name on it to check in
11. Helped the children one-on-one spell out their names on the name chart
12. Sat with the children during calendar time
13. Washed our hands
14. Sat down for breakfast
15. Helped the children when they needed it
16. Cleaned up the table
17. Washed our hands again
18. Free play/ I went around with the children and asked what they were doing
19. Story time
20. Free play again with the children
21. Cleaned up
22. Journal time
23. Washed hands
24. Signed out and left
Observed Episode:
Today my mentor was not at my placement site due to her child being sick. I was very
unsure in what to expect with my mentor being absent. The classroom was absolutely khaotic.
My Analysis:
As the day progressed the more khaotic it got. The entire Head Start was short staffed
since two adults were not there today. At the beginning of the morning it was calm and the
children were listening. Once breakfast was over the children began to have more energy.
Therefore, once the children had more energy the more they began to not listen and act out
during free play. Miss. Gulfar did the best she could and I am so thankful that I got to watch her
handle the children on her own without Sara there. Each and every staff member did what they
could today and acted calm all throughout the time I was there. Miss. Gulfar thanked me
repeatedly for being there to help her.
Involved Episode:
 Today I helped each child one-on-one spell their names out on the name wall/door. The
children each had their name spelt out on separate stars. For each letter of their name they had
a star with that letter. Their names were already spelt out on the door with velcro stuck to each
letter.
My Analysis:
There is a child in the program who is arabic and is learning english as his second
language. It was amazing to see if he knew the letters in his name in english. He knew a couple
letters but some he had to struggle with so I helped him sound out his name. I enjoyed being
able to help this child comprehend the english alphabet. Other children struggled as well. I have
noticed that the children do not practice writing their names. Some of the children knew how to
spell out their name but looked to me for guidance as we spell it out.
Teaching Practice:
As for the teaching aspect it is the same as my involved episode. I helped children spell
out their names and recognize their names. I realized that the children need more practice at
spelling out their name. Along with being able to recognize their names.
Random Thoughts and Reflections:
I am looking forward to getting to know the children more. I am excited to learn more
about the Head Start program. As well as watching the child learn english as his second
language. He knows some english but he struggles to form some sentences. I am excited for
what this semester brings to me!

February 1st
What I did:
1. Signed in
2. Signed time sheet
3. Signed the inkind sheet? Whatever it is called
4. Washed my hands
5. Talked to Miss Sara about how yesterday went
6. Greeted staff as they entered
7. Talked with Miss Sara and Miss Gulfar until the first child arrived
8. As the children arrived I assisted them when they needed help with taking their ski pants
and boots off
9. I helped the children sign in and do their names on the name board/wall
10. During morning free play I worked with the children build puzzles
11. Washed our hands for breakfast
12. Sat down and said our song
13. I began the meal at the table I was seated at
14. Helped children when they needed it
15. Picked up spilt milk that a child knocked over
16. Finished breakfast
17. Picked up the table
18. Washed hands
19. Free play
 20. Walked around and did activities with the children
21. Picked up
22. Journal
23. Music
24. Washed hands for lunch
25. Signed out and left
Observed Episode:
I watched how my menor handled a child when he smacked another child on the head
during free play. They were playing in a sand bucket together and then the boy wanted it to
himself and the little girl had it first so she told him no then he decided he would smack her on
the top of the head.
My Analysis:
I was absolutely shocked but not at the same time. The boy who acted out is a child who
usually acts out and goes after other children and make it a game when he feels like doing
whatever he wants. I feel he acts out the way he does because he wants all of the attention and
may not be getting any at home. He targets the girl more than other children in the classroom.
He even asked politely to play and they were doing great until he wanted it all to himself.
Involved Episode:
Breakfast time. I ran a breakfast table today. I initiated the meal and assisted children
when needed.
My Analysis:
It was nice being able to start the initiation of breakfast. I noticed that most of the
children eat until everything off the table is gone. I feel that most of the children do not eat much
at home and come to Head Start starving. Most of the children start eating as they serve
themselves. I have noticed that some of the children struggle with pouring their milk into their
cups and end up spilling it all over the table. One child was scared to try the yogurt so I left him
be and he ended up deciding to try the yogurt and blackberries and ended up really liking both.
It was nice to see a child try something new and end up liking it.
Teaching Practice:
I learned today that family style meals are nice to incorporate into a classroom. It allows
the children to gain independence and be able to help themselves when at a table. As for the
children hitting each other it showed me that no matter how nice a child can be they can turn in
an instant so always watch the children no matter how nice they may have been.
Random Thoughts and Reflections:
I liked being able to begin the meal today. Also, Miss Sara complemented me today on
how well I have been with the children and that I am handling it all well. As I was leaving she
told me that she can tell that I have had experienced with children.

February 2nd
1. I have learned that Head Start has absolutely slim to nothing. They utilize any thing they
can and create things. Also, I have learned that Head Start gives children a chance to
have schooling and it may give them a meal that they do not receive at home. As for
their philosophy I have learned they really do play to learn. The children are allowed
 great amount of free play but theres things they are learning without them even realizing
it. Also, the children are learning better doing hands on activities instead of just sitting in
a chair and doing nothing.
2. This setting is a complete opposite than my last placement site. My new site provides for
the families who have less money. My old placement site was a private preschool
program. The Head Start that I am located at now is a federal funded program. This
program provides for the low income families. Also, at this site they eat their meals
together unlike my old placement site. Also, the Head Start program has more free play
and less structure than my old placement site.
3. I am very comfortable working with the age group that I was assigned. I feel that its
going to challenge myself and I am looking forward to figuring out how to get over the
obstacles that I may face with this age group as the semester progresses. This age
group is strengthening me as a teacher.
4. To meet the needs of this age group I will be cutting my lessons into 10 minute time
periods. The children of the age group that I have now struggle to sit still for a long
period of time. They get very bored easily. My old site you were able to conduct a 15-20
minute lesson due to them being preschool aged children.
5. I feel like I am fitting great into this setting. My mentor and her assistant praise me often
on how well I am doing and how thankful they are to have me there to help them in any
way that I can. Some of the strategies that I see to be part of the team is patience. The
children at my site are very challenging therefore they require a lot of patience when
working with them.
6. I am not sure where the children come from. One child is arabic and is learning english
as his second language and it is challenging for him to complete sentences and say
what he wants. There are many children who have refurrals for different things and are
waiting for their assessments.