i have a little notebook of observations i did before xmas as i knew this one was coming up just makes things a bit easier for me

Hi all
Went to my tutorial yesterday came back all fire up to do this **** TMA, Have just sat and typed up all 5 of the observations i did last week, and now can not find anything worth analysising in any of them. They all seem very boring with very little happening in them.
It will be back to the pen and pad again next week, my poor class will get a complex soon, I feel abit like big brother watching their every move

These have been my first "official" observations and while I found it easy enough to write notes during the session I am now at a lost in how to present my observations?!?

I've set the scene (for PE it was gym) but do I need to go into that much detail about what the instruction was, and how the particular child reacted and behaved? Should it be in bullet points or one sentence on the activity and then "child H" was very quiet, tried once and then gave up not being able to do it until he received specific support and encouragement. Or is that too analytical for section two?

I'm stuck!!! Can anyone help? (my tutor unfortunately doesn't have access on email until the 3rd!!)

Cheers

Sarah

Hi Sarah. For the observations you need to write just what you see and hear. I wrote about two sentances to set the scene, eg Child x is sitting at his table with 3 other children, a TA is supporting the group. The lesson is a RE, or something along those lines. Then write exactly what you see and hear. Remember you only have 350 words per observation. Leave any analysis for part 3. Follow the TMA guide it will help. This for me has been the hardest one so far and I an used to doing observations as part of my job.
Good luck. Hope that helps and makes sense
ggeni

ok i hope you can help me girls im stuck for what to do now.i had everything arranged to do my observations then went to see headteacher and she now isnt sure if i can do them.i cant use old observations ive done as the child i did 1-1 with has now left.im so stuck and i really dont want to fail.we have a big thing going on in the school and loads of guests coming in and out and shes unsure if the children need any added distractions,it has to be in soon ans im really worried.can anyone give me any ideas on what to do or anyway around it.i do have a daughter of 7 who if worst come to worst i would have to do some home activities with her but i dont know

Hi there louiw.
Seems like you are having a bit of a nightmare with this one. I'd have a word with your tutor and explain what has happened. Whether your 1-1 child has left or not, I'm sure using your old observations would be ok. Maybe put a little sentence or two in the essay to explain and when it comes to the part about how you would support the childs learning further simply say....'had my child still been at the school I would have.....'
Hope you manage to get things sorted and good luck.

thankyou for that dolphin1974 may well end up having to do this

i had a similar problem when i had ti change tack completely on a TMA...the tutor said a similar thing...mention it to yours im sure it will be fine

Hi Louiw

Does sound as if your school isn't exactly helpful. Remember that no-one is actually going to check what you have done while observing the child. As long as you have an observation to base your TMA on you can elaborate and write it as if you still work with the child. Saves explanations and eating into your word count.

Just about to start writing up my observations and I know the next week is going to fly by. I always end up sending mine off at the last minute, just wish I was more organised.

thankyou all i have now been allowed to sit in on 2 lesson's after explaining again that i only wish to observe the child not anyone else and i have consent blah blah blah.mind you considering i work there your right they've not been exactly helpful.i have been limited to 15 mins per lesson as i would still be classed as a distraction hopefully this will be enough,not really sure how long there supposed to be.yet theyve allowed me to sit in on literacy and pe does this sound ok to you all

ok ive just done the pe observation,we had 2 peeps over from portsmouth football club to show children ball skills etc.though the lesson was 30 mins (and i was allowed to stay for it all in the end)my child said 2 words!! can i use this and just base it on visual skills/motor control etc ?

Wow Louiw
I am amazed that your school treats you in such a way, even more so as you are employed by then. Does anyone else have that sort of trouble? It makes me realise how helpful and supportive my school has been and all the staff. I have been given free run to go into any class to do my observations/ activities, and the other LSA,s I work with have been great swapping playground duties etc. so I could finish obs and write notes while still fresh. It must be so much harder without school support. I find this hard to understand as the school stands to benfit from you knowledge.
Good luck with it all
ggeni

they have students in all the time doing this kind of thing so i dont know why they've been funny with me,perhaps i smell

mind you to give them there dues there all abit stressed at the moment with all the meetings and upheaval,i dont know if any of you have heard but the isle of wight is being changed from 3 tier to 2 tier,i think were only one of a few that are still 3 tier.so i can understand how they may be stressed but anyhow thats not my fault

anyone had theres back yet i know its early