Fieldwork Observations – Outside Setting

I noticed the environment… (this includes physical, materials, & social-emotional, intellectual; both inside & outside of setting)

·         The school is surrounded by a beautiful, quiet neighborhood with houses and buildings.

·         There is another school just a few meters from the school.

·         There is a park outside the school, located across the street from the school. Everyone uses the park for recess from time to time.

·         There are few restaurants and corner stores that teachers frequent in their free time.

·         The environment has a lot of trees.

I noticed the adults…(this includes direct instruction, engagement with children, engagement with other adults, i.e., coworkers & families)

·         I noticed that teachers interact with kids in the park by supervising them and playing with them to keep students engaged even when they are already playing.

·         I noticed that teachers interact with each other when getting ready to leave the park and also when leaving the park by communicating and letting the next teacher know that the park is safe for the next outside lesson.

·         Teachers hold discussions and dialogue among themselves while supervising children in the park.

I noticed the children…

·         Children are happiest when playing in the park.

·         Children enjoy making up their own games when playing with each other in the park.

·         Children engage in fitness activities held at the park through running and walking.

I interacted by…

·         Playing with children in the park and helping the teachers gather them to bring them back inside the school.

·         Engaging in storytelling and singing songs with students at the park

·         Participating in watering plants activities in the park

·         Playing the tag game with students at the park

I’m curious about…

·         I’m curious to know why teachers are still required to bring students outside even if the weather is not warm.

·         I’m curious to know if teachers agree with the requirements of keeping air conditioning devices or taking children outside when it is not too warm.

·         I’m curious to know the neighborhood’s opinion about students using the park on a regular basis.

I can learn more about this by…

·         I can learn more about this by communicating more with all teachers in the school to hear their responses.

·         I can learn more about this by observing whether teachers take children outside even when it’s not warm.

Connections to my teaching/education philosophy….

·         Teachers allowed students to interact with each other as a way to boost intercultural collaborations.

·         Students were divided into groups when visiting the park for various activities.

Connections to course (discussions, readings, videos/podcasts, etc.—BE SPECIFIC):

·         Outside the school, activities helped students learn about the environment around them

·         Students were more active in activities that teachers participated in.