Mukumaoy Olimjonova
Iris Marrus
                                   Observation.
      Observation of the classroom is very important step to become a teacher for young children and to uderstand the use of music in the classroom. Before entering the school environment , future teachers should always need to gain experiences by observing classrooms and the ways children learn. For the "Observation" , I went to a Public School , P.S 253 at 601 Oceanview Avenue.
    Since it was my first observation day I decided to observe the classroom for two hours. I was observing Wendy Mack's (Mrs.Mack) pre-kindergarten classroom. There are sixteen students in the classroom and two teachers. The students' age are from four to five. The classroom is located outside of the building in the trailer. Two classes used the trailer and between them was a door which seperated the class from each other. The classroom is very conveniet for students to work , play , eat their breakfast or lunch and use restroom because its inside of the class or trailer. When I entered inside of the trailer , I noticed that the room has all the information of the students and their activities. The room had all the students' name on it, schedule and the teacher's name. The room seemed very welcome and warm.
     The pre-kindergarten room was brightly decorated with lots of posters and students' art. The students' little desks were arranged in two rows pushed together and facing each other. There were about four little desks in the classroom with five seats in each desk. On the walls they are tons of pictures encouraging children learning and their names hanging. There are pictures of colors, shapes, letters, animals, numbers, objects and much more. I also noticed that there was big albhabet letters next to the big shelf which is filled with children interested books and toys which are blocks. In the middle of the classroom between the children's desk there is big space where children sit on the floor and work with their teacher while she use her big rocket chair to interest them. At the left of the room next to the desks there is one big closet where children leave their stuffs and a table where their fruits (lunch) are located. The room was divided into four spaces; the station with lots of toys which encourages children to play and learn , the student's desk , the computer station and the reading corner. The classroom really looked good and beautiful.
     When I arived into the classroom students were done eating their breakfast and it was a time to move to the literature lesson. To keep the students calm , the teacher turned on short music which made students create a circle in the middle of the classroom fast without any trouble or noice. Once the children completed circle time they transitioned into Music. Children review every lessons by the music Mrs. Mack puts for the class. Forexample; she put the "Days of the Week Song" which is they learn it with the different foods in each day they eat. The best day for them was Monday because children liked pizza on that day. Once the students completed their song they stop the music for a short time and start to talk about their book and discuss what was in the story. Mrs.Mack classroom was learning the letter G so she brought differents toys which starts with the letter G like gorrila , gift box and gum. After they start to re-read the book by puting music. Students were quiet listening , laughing , and enjoying their book. After they start to discuss what they liked the most about the book.
    Mrs.Mack told me that she puts music to make her class more funny and interesting. She told me that if she puts music students in her class learn more better , communicate their opinions and she said " Its easy way to keep class going". Students in her class participate more better when they hear sounds of music because the rhythm makes children move more and communicate through their body gestures of what their feelings are. Whenever she sees that students are making some respond to the book she makes them to explain to their friends. Also she likes to question students and she herself makes some gestures without talking that her students understand what she is trying to show or ask. She puts all of her effort to teach her students the things they should know. She really loves her class and the students because the environment she created for them is really lovely and interesting.
    When it was time for me to leave classroom I asked Mrs.Mack what is the good time to come into her class , to learn and work with children she said " You could come any time you want and work with my students because it would be pleasure for me and children to work together with you". I think it was great experience for me to observe how music was used in her classroom even during the students moving activities. In my opinion it would be great to use some more different types of music while children are learning because I saw that by listening to the music children are more likely to learn better and fast. I would like to suggest to use albhabet songs, counting song and the month songs for her classroom because even children know everything it would be really great if they hear it every day or more often.
    I picked up so many teaching methods while I was observing Mrs.Mack. The most important I learned that it will be not that easy to teach children so teachers should be responsible for her students and be patient to teach them and creative.I really liked her class and the students because when in the morning I entered to their classroom they were all happy to see new person in their class and students were welcomed me with warm smile and some of the girls gave me a hug. This reaction of children was really impressive to me. I realized that the teaching and the use of music really is what I would like to do for the rest of my life. To see how children learn and smile makes me happy and all the hard time worth it and forget the bad things.