Observation Day 1: Preschool Visit (Week 2)

I made a visit to a local preschool in San Francisco to observe how children play, how they interacted with each other, and how they interacted with their teachers. If my proposed idea was to create an integrated learning environment for children with and without a vision impairment, then I needed to understand how both groups of children socialized in their school environment separately and together.

I arrived at the preschool with Grace, a friend of mine who was a teacher's assistant there. I was greeted by the primary teacher, Devon, along with her 5-year-old daughter who was attending the preschool there as well. The preschool is primarily set in the backyard outside as shown in the photos below. This particular preschool follows Magda Gerber's RIE philosophy which is to respect and trust the baby to be their own initiator, explorer, and self-learner when in a safe environment to do so.

A sensory play table with large lego blocks was set up for the students as they each arrive at school. These group of children varied in age; from as little as 18 months old to 5 years old. 

These are few of my observations:

• the older the child is, the more perceptive and in control of their emotions

• the younger children tend to express more feelings and may be socially awkward

• children have a short attention span and are frequently doing something new

• toys that can move or be ridden were the most popular toy played with

• sensory tables were set up by using large Lego-like blocks

• toys need to be like and be able to be gripped easily

What I would change in this setting:

• a safer set-up of the playhouse

• educational toys

• more group activities (although the choice of preschool to follow RIE philosophy)