Preschool-aged children and adolescents can be quite different and, oddly enough, seem so alike at the same time. For the most part, children will transition through the physical, cognitive, emotional, and social development stages toward adolescence at a typical rate, and with this transition will come maturity. As a teacher, it is important for you to know how these changes influence learning to ensure you are prepared for the challenges and rewards of teaching.
This 2-part assignment gives you the opportunity to observe and compare 2 different age ranges of children in an educational setting and interview each teacher you’ve observed.
Part 1: Observations Comparison
Observe the following classroom settings for at least 1 hour each:
- Preschool or lower elementary (K–3)
- Upper elementary or middle school
Interview each teacher you observed following the observation using the Sample Interview Questions as a reference.
525- to 700-words comparing the 2 classroom observations completed that addresses the following:
- Description of the setting: Include the type of school, time of day, what the students were participating in at the time of observation, and the level of student engagement
- Consider the physical development of students at each observation. How were they the same? How were they different? What influences on learning did the students’ physical development seem to have?
- Consider the cognitive development of students at each observation. How were they the same? How were they different? What influences on learning did the students’ cognitive development seem to have?
- Consider the emotional and social development of students at each setting. How were they the same? How were they different? What influences on learning did the students’ social and emotional development seem to have?
- Explain anything surprising you noticed in either of the observations. What insight did you gain from these observations?
Part 2: Interview Summaries
275- to 350-word summary for each interview that includes the following information:
- Site information: teacher’s name, teacher’s background and experience, grade level of students, and type of classroom
- Brief summary of teacher’s responses to the interview questions
- Specific knowledge or skills you learned from this teacher that you may apply to your own teaching
