5N1773: The learner will Pick an Age Range Within 3-5-year-olds to Carry out the Reading Activity in the pre-school Room: Early Childhood Education and Play Assignment, UCD, Ireland

Assessment Technique: Skills Demonstration

Learning Outcomes Assessed: LOs (7-10)

Title of this Assessment: Skills Demonstration-Reading a story

Summary of Assignment:

1. The learner will pick an age range within 3-5-year-olds to carry out the reading activity in the pre-school room.
2. You must provide video and written evidence of the activity. (See instruction at end of brief)
3. You must get signed permission to video the activity and ensure children cannot be identified. (Positioning the camera on you, but behind the children is effective)
4. There must be written evidence of planning, preparation, and evaluation of the activity.
5. You will use visual aids and other resources to support the presentation e.g. pictures, captions, puppets, or props that relate to the story.

Section one –Written Evidence  – Planning and Preparation

a. Give an introduction to the storytelling activity and include the following;

• Describe your book selection (i.e. big book, small book, tactile interactive, colorful illustrations) and discuss the ‘developmental appropriateness’ of your book and storytelling activity.
• Did you observe children’s interests before selection?
• Did you collaborate with staff on the selection of an appropriate story?
• You must show an understanding of the importance of reading and the benefits of this type of activity for children’s learning and development (PILES)
• Describe the planning of the environment to read the story i.e. where it will be conducted and why you chose this area?
• Describe why and how you will use visual aids and other resources to support the presentation?

Section two  – Video Evidence – Implementation:

You are required to deliver the story to the group of children and provide video evidence of this activity.

You will be marked on the following:

• Effective performance, including competent responses to verbal and non-verbal cues from the children. i.e. (Observing children, eye contact, non-verbal gestures, good body language, humour)
• effective & appropriate interaction with the child/children (Inclusion of children, elaborating, discussing areas, dramatizing, responding to them)
• Successful & appropriate use of voice throughout. i.e. (Confident, audible, paced speech, changing tone and pitch)
• Successful & appropriate use of aids/resources to use with the story i.e. (Use of book and props effectively in demonstration)

Provision of evidence & captions-i.e. (showing book pages, discussion specific captions and pictures in the book or additional captions if used as props)

Section three – Written Evidence – Evaluation:

(a)This should include a comprehensive evaluation of the technique and aids/resources used.

Describe what happened including

• How children participated?
• Did you plan effectively?
• Did you rehearse effectively?
• Did the children enjoy the activity?
• Was it at the right level or too easy/too hard?
• How did you perform (assess your own ability in the activity)?
• Did the aids/resources, props add to the activity?
• Would you do the activity again and why?
• What have you learned in this process that will improve your practice in the future?

(b)A Comprehensive evaluation of the development & learning value of the performance for the children participating

• Describe how you promoted language and communication skills in the activity?
• Where did your activity support the principles and themes of Aistear & Siolta?
• Discuss your role in the performance /activity:

You should reflect on the importance of the role of the adult in play activities and how you used these when implementing this particular activity

(Your assignment should be adequately referenced using the chapter notes and the documents in the information folder)