OBSERVATION REPORT
Project Goal: Successful economists, businessmen, psychologists, teachers etc. conduct market research to get to know their clients / audience. Similarly, writing effective children's literature requires knowing your audience. Based on our younger siblings, our own experiences, baby-sitting, etc., we can talk about what children like and dislike. But, after a while, it's just talk. We need to sit on the floor with real kids whom we do not even know, but who enjoy reading and hearing stories (and who doesn't!). So, haven' you had enough of Greenlaw? Go out into the real world and read to a group of children! (Drive carefully!)
OBSERVATION REPORT
Due: Anytime Before Spring Break
Listen to a local story-teller read his /her book. Check:
Triangle CitySearch.com (Kids & Family Section)Write a 2-3 page report in which you do the following:
Storytelling (lists places and phone numbers that have children's storytelling times); Will even provide a map!
"Kid's" section of the:Independent
Spectator
a local newspaper.)
Part 2: An observation report of the reading. Take play-by-play notes. Look at your watch and document the time (about every 10 minutes) in the margin. How many children were there? Were the children engaged? For how long? How did the children behave: interested, bored, excited, etc.? Other observations or information that would be helpful. Did the author/reader talk to the children? How? What about? Once you have considered these questions and others you devise, write a synthesized and objective report. Include the observation log / notes in your final report.
Part 3: Discuss the author's presentation. How did s/he engage the children? Was it interesting, dull, effective, ineffective? Why? Be specific. What advice would you give him/her? What would you imitate or do differently in your own presentation?
PRACTICE WHAT YOU PREACH
Due: Anytime after Spring Break, but before Good Friday
Read a book to a group of children either at the Public Library, a school on/near campus (the nursery school near the church or the Friday center, or Franklin Porter Graham), or Barnes and Nobel. You may read a classic, or one on of your own stories. Call your favorite place to make arrangements.
Part 2: An observation report of how the children behaved during the reading and how they responded in general. Take notes on some of the following before you get started (or bring a classmate with you to help you take notes). How many children were there? When were they? For how long? How did the children respond? Other observations or information that would be helpful. Once you have considered these questions and others you devise, write a synthesized and objective report.
Part 3: How did it go, really? How had you planned to engage the children? Did it work? Were you interesting, dull, effective, ineffective? Why? Be objective and specific. What would you differently next time? Don't feel limited by these questions.
Part 4: What's it really like reading books to children? Is it more or less complicated than it looks? What do they like and dislike? Does it reflect our class discussions? Don't feel limited by these questions.
Deborah De Rosa
2000
