Authentic Observation and Reflection Sheet – Field Placement II 350/365Student
Week 7
Name: Tabinda Imtinan Date:
Why are you doing this observation? (think about where in the planning cycle you are to answer
this)
I am conducting this observation to determine whether children enjoy music and whether they
are interested in playing musical instruments.
Who are the players in this observation?
All the children participated in this activity, and each of them had a turn to play a musical
instrument.
What did the child/children experience and explore? Write a detailed objective observation
The children had a great time playing various instruments and exploring their features. They also
discovered that some instruments are more challenging to play than others. Additionally, they
learned that some instruments require using your fingers, while others require using your mouth
to produce sounds.
What do you think were the children learning before this observation? What ‘uploading’ has
occurred for these children in your care? Is this a new emergence of play? Where do you think it
has come from?
The children learned what instruments are what and how to play them, but they also learn about
their personal preference on the type of instrument they like to play. For example, if the child
likes something to do more with fidgeting their fingers, they could go for something that has
more fingers involved.
How could you respond to the children and extend this play for the children? What is a possible
big idea?
We can further extend this activity by gathering feedback from the children about their
experience. If the children enjoyed taking turns playing every instrument, we can repeat the
activity in a similar manner. However, if they preferred certain instruments over others, we can
organize the instruments into groups or categories. This way, each child can choose a group
based on their preferences, ensuring that they only play instruments they enjoy.
What were your first thoughts about what the children were doing? What impressions do you
have? Initially, I noticed that the children could be quite competitive, as some wanted to
outperform others when playing instruments. However, they also demonstrated cooperative
behavior. For example, I observed Luke struggling to play an instrument, but his friend Kyle
came to his aid and showed him how to play it, highlighting their willingness to help each other.
What does the child/children appear to know? What theories about their world do they already
have?
It's interesting to note that while some children already possess the skill of playing an instrument,
others do not. However, I observed that those who already know how to play willingly chose to
help the others who were unfamiliar. This indicates that the children are considering qualities
like kindness and helpfulness in their interactions. It's possible they are beginning to form ideas
about the type of people they appreciate and how they perceive the world around them.
What do you think the child was trying to accomplish in his/her play? What questions did they
need to answer for themselves?
It seems the children's main goal was to have fun while also learning how to play a new
instrument. One question they may have asked themselves was whether they were capable of
playing the instrument. If they believed they could, they were likely able to achieve it with
assistance from another child or myself. This experience may have helped them build confidence
in their abilities.
What questions arise for you? What do you want to know more about as you watch children
engage and explore? What are your “I wonder” statements?
A key question that arises for me is whether any of the children developed a strong liking for a
particular instrument, to the extent that they may consider joining a band or pursuing music in
the future. Additionally, I wonder if the children expressed a desire to engage in this activity
more frequently, indicating their enjoyment and interest in playing musical instruments.
How do the principles of constructivism (hands-on learning) apply to what you saw? How does
what you saw apply to what you are learning in your course work to date?
Instead of relying on videos or internet searches to learn how to play an instrument, the children
had the opportunity to engage in hands-on learning in real life.
What dispositions did you see children nurturing? How can you nurture those dispositions
further? What other dispositions can be nurtured and how?
One disposition I observed was cooperation, as I witnessed two children attempting to play a
song together. This required them to collaborate and understand each other's roles with the
instrument. Another disposition that emerged was confidence. If a child feels confident enough
to play a song in front of the class, I would encourage them to do so, as it can help build their
confidence further.
