Next their was a new activity set up at a table it was weaving. A had never done weaving before. A and his friend who was upset moved on to the weaving activity table. He picked up the yellow coloured strip and starting weaving, using both of his hands. As A was weaving he was talking to all the other children who were also taking part in the weaving activity. After A had finished weaving all of the yellow strips. He stopped and thought for a while on what colour to choose next. He then picked up red colour strips with his left hand and weaved those in as well. After A had weaved in the red strips, A stood up and gazed at his work. He then picked up his work and put it to the side.
Soon after A walked towards the table with puzzles on it. A worked his way through all 4 puzzles, concentrating throughout. Then the supervisor told everyone to tidy up. A quickly tided up and put all the puzzle pieces in properly and then picked two puzzles up with both of his hands and walked toward the shelf and placed them their. He then swivelled around and headed towards the table to pick up the other two puzzles. A lifted then up with both of his hands and walked towards the shelf and put them on top of the other ones which had already been placed by him there.
A next moved on to the drawing table and helped the other child to put away the felt tips and pencils into the right containers. Soon after he went and sat down on the carpet with his legs crossed and arms placed on his lap.
E6 &E7 & E10
I observed A focussing on Personal and Social development for 45 minutes in a free play session in order to note his development in this particular aspect of the early years curriculum. As I was observing A during the free play session I noticed that he was extremely helpful and caring towards his peers. A was really confident in choosing the weaving activity which was new to him. And also A displayed high levels of involvement in the three activity’s that he chose to do. But we do have to remember that all children develop differently form each other.
A is 4:6 years old and the Early Years Curriculum stepping stones states “show increasing independence in selecting and carrying out activities” (2000, pg32). This is the blue area stepping stone and this is usually expected to happen around A’s age. This shows me that A is on the right track for Personal and Social development. Also the Early Years Curriculum stepping stones states “be confident and try out new activities” (2000, pg32). A was confident during my observation when he was trying out an activity new to him which was weaving. This statement is from the grey section of the Early Year Curriculum and this is meant to happen right at the last stage of foundation stage, and A is only 4:6 years. This shows me that A is advanced in a part of his personal and social development.
The Early years curriculum also states “talk freely about their home and community” (2000, pg34). This statement is from blue section stepping stones. And A is 4:6 years and he has showed me that he can talk freely about his home and community when I was carrying out the observation he was talking about his house and the local library which he had visited. This shows me that A is developing at the right pace for Social and Personal development.
Tassoni and Beith also state in their book “at 4-6 years: playing with other children is increasingly important and some children start to make close friendships” (2002, pg237). This statement made by Tassoni and Beith also tells me that A is developing at the right pace in Personal and Social development. But all children are individuals and develop at their own pace.
E8
I firstly recommend that A joins the drama club of his school because as you can see from my observation that he talks freely and confidently. And by joining the drama club A will see even better role models and he will pick up from them new tips and techniques to talk freely and confidently. By joining the drama club it will boost his personal and social development. In the drama club he will interact with other children and by doing this it will boost his social development to an even higher level.
I also recommend that A is given much more of an opportunity within his class to work within a group. Because as you cans see from my observation that A loved talking to his peers while he was working on an activity table. So if A has more of a chance to work as part of a group it will advance his personal and social development.
E9 & E10
After doing the children talking observation, I found out that every child is an individual and develops at different rates in whatever way. Doing an observation is an excellent technique for gathering sufficient information on a specific child in this case it was A. After reading my observation I can surely say that A is advanced in parts of his personal and social development. Compared to A’s peers, A is extremely advanced in his personal and social development the possible reasons for this is that A’s parents talk to him occasionally about what he likes and dislikes. A is extremely confident compared to his peers the possible reasons for this can be that A parent’s encourage and praise for thing that he has said and this boost’s his confidence. I have also learnt that A is on the right track compared to the developmental milestones. I think every child should have this observation done on them.
D1
The Personal and Social observation that I carried out on A was a period of 45 minutes approximately. When my supervisor read my observation she found out that how confident A was and that how freely he spoke. Then she planned that for the next week’s lesson’s she will give A more opportunity’s to work in groups. She also said that she will ask A’s parents that if he could attend the school drama club. My supervisor said that she will tell A’s parents to carry on with the praise and encouragement at home. So now you can see that my observation has been effective for my supervisors weekly planning.
Resubmission
C1
I have looked Albert Bandura’s Social learning theory for my personal and social development observation. For my first recommendation made in E8 it consists the A to be imaginative and look at others to form ideas. Bandura (1977) states: "Learning would be exceedingly laborious, not to mention hazardous, if people had to rely solely on the effects of their own actions to inform them what to do. Fortunately, most human behaviour is learned observationally through modelling: from observing others one forms an idea of how new behaviours are performed, and on later occasions this coded information serves as a guide for action." [Online]Available at: <> This statement made by Albert Bandura supports my recommendation because Albert Bandura statement says that children learn through socialising and this specific statement I got above says that children get ideas from other children and this supports my first recommendation. Because A will be going to a drama club and getting ideas from other children.
My second recommendation made in E8 is also supported by Albert Bandura’s Social learning theory because my second recommendation consists A to interact with other children while working in a group, and in a part of Albert Bandura’s Social learning theory it says “children learn by interacting” (Online) Available at: <>. So as you can see that both of my recommendations made in E8 are supported by Albert Bandura’s Social learning theory.
Re-submission
E11 – Bibliography
Bandura, A. (1977) Social Learning Theory (A. Bandura) (Online) April 26th. Available at: <> Accessed 26.04.06.
(2000)Early Years Curriculum. London: Qualifactions and Curriculum Authority.
Tassoni, P. and Beith, K . and Eldridge, H . and Gough, A . (2002) Diploma in Childcare and Education. Oxford: Heinemann Educational Publishers.