Elementary School Field Experience Paper

The following experiences with children have been completed throughout 2014-2016:

• Westminster College Preschool Lab

• Hance Elementary School Field Experience

• New Castle Head Start

As I reflect on my experience in working with a variety of different types and ages of children, I realize the importance of Component 3a of Domain 3: Communicating with children. I was able to positively and effectively communicate with children of all ages from preschool to elementary age during my time at the many experience locations. While volunteering, it was necessary to use age-appropriate knowledge and proper tone for the children to keep engaged while speaking to their ability. As importantly as speaking, I needed to be a proactive and interactive

This demonstrated Component 3c of Domain 3: Engaging student in learning. While leading the Music time at the Preschool Lab, the students enjoyed learning while singing. This provided many fun activities in teaching academics and social skills that could be fun, simple and easy to share with others at any time. Also in the Preschool Lab, many activities involved hands-on interaction so that these early learners could develop their fine and gross motor skills and social skills in working with other students. The engagement of hands on learning was also very beneficial during the time at the Head Start program. The students were eager to help with classroom responsibilities and excited to be involved actively during circle time. The same types of engaging the students in social learning was experienced at Hance Elementary, with more focus on independence. In addition, the students were students were very much engages when provided several activities when academic lessons were being taught. For example, the class did not just read a story, they completed worksheet activities, whiteboard diagram retells, acting out and bulletin board activities to enforce and develop different style comprehension