1 Course Reflections and Observations: Educational Psychology Educational Psychology Patrick Migliaccio December 7, 2023 2 For my observation, I chose to observe my girlfriend, Gianna, and her coworkers at her job. She works at Full Spectrum Therapy Partners which is a place where children who are on the spectrum (or experiencing behavioral issues) can go and receive Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) therapy. Also, Full Spectrum has a Pre-kindergarten program which I was also able to observe. I had a great time while observing, and it gave me a chance to really understand what Gianna does on a day-to-day basis! School/Educational/Training Setting Environment As I mentioned before, I was observing at Full Spectrum Therapy Partners located in Hamilton, New Jersey. When I first stepped into the facility, I was warmly greeted by not only the woman at the front desk, but as well as all of the staff! To the left when you walk in, there is a children’s table as well as a colorful rug with positive affirmations on it such as “Be happy” and “Be kind”, for example. There is also a kitchen play set as well as magnetic blocks for the children to play with. Furthermore, there are several decorations on the wall including different emotions, the alphabet, and more positive affirmations. Gianna showed me around the facility, and I was truly amazed; I felt as if I wanted to be a kid for the day! There is a messy-play room, a calm room, a tabletop room, and finally, the sensory gym (my personal favorite). The messy-play room has a sandbox as well as a long table for arts and crafts. On the walls, there are neon signs and boxes mounted on the walls to display and hold art supplies. The calm room is also really cool; it was recently redesigned to look like an ‘outdoor’ room. The floor is lined with fake grass and there is a small tent for the children to lay or sit in when they are feeling overwhelmed. There are rainbow curtains as well as fake clouds on the ceiling for additional effect. Finally, there are pillows that look like tree trunks and there is a mural full of trees on one of the walls. The tabletop room is fairly simple. There is a 3 table, chairs, and some games the children can play. This is where the children have their lunch or a snack. Finally, the sensory gym was absolutely amazing. Since this facility is made especially for children on the spectrum, the sensory gym is the main playroom for them. The floor is lined with interlocking foam tiles which is amazing for the children. Also, there is a flatscreen TV, a zip line which you can hang swings from as well, monkey bars, yoga balls, bean bags, and so much more. There are also a bunch of containers full of fidget toys, board games, anything you can imagine. The age range I was observing the specific day I went was pre-school age (three and four-year-olds) and also elementary school age (eight and nine-year-olds). Considering it is a pre-kindergarten program and ABA therapy, there aren’t specific classes. However, I was 100% able to observe them whilst they were learning and/or receiving therapy. Teaching Behaviors Not only was I able to observe the children, but I was able to observe Gianna as well as her coworkers. This was huge to me because I was able to listen to them in how they communicate, problem solve, and the use of their voice. Something I particularly liked was that I was able to notice and take note of the different cultural backgrounds and different ethnicities. We read about children from various backgrounds in the text, so I was happy to be able to apply what I learned in class to my observations. For example, a 5-year-old nonverbal child came in to receive ABA therapy but there is a small language barrier between his parents and the staff. Gianna was able to apply her knowledge of cultural safety. As stated by the authors Thompson & Taylor, “Cultural safety is about ensuring that the cultural background of the professional does not dominate or put at risk the safety and well-being of any individual or group of a different cultural background to the professional” (2022). Being culturally safe as a professional is extremely important when children and parents are involved! On another note, the children were 4 happy with smiles on their faces, ready to learn. It truly seemed as if the children were excited to be there; even if they were receiving ABA therapy. Classroom Organization Considering this is not a ‘normal’ classroom setting, things are a bit different. To begin with, behind the front desk is a big whiteboard which has the schedule for the day, the month, and the learning plans for the day. For example, when I was observing, the pre-kindergarten program was learning the number two and the letter ‘B’. So, on the board, it said, “Today’s letter is B and today’s number is 2”. As for the learning schedule, it was very detailed and explained what the kids were learning, when lunch was, when naptime was, and so much more. During the day, the children are given breaks which include crafts, minimal technology usage (YouTube), and just relaxing. At the end of the day, I found it very helpful and useful that Gianna and her coworkers have a form they fill out in regard to the children’s behavior, potty times, and so on. I knew that this was common in pre-kindergarten centers, but I do not think it is common in elementary schools. However, I do feel as though elementary schools should start in cooperating a sheet regarding the child’s day; I feel like it could be very beneficial! Teaching/Presenting Strategies During the time I spent observing, I was able to get a good understanding of the teaching techniques used by the staff. Something I particularly liked was that the staff at Full Spectrum Therapy Partners has specific ways they teach certain students depending on their learning styles. This relates to what we learned and discussed in this course considering not every student learns the same and it is important to be inclusive in this way. As stated in the text, “Your students will have varying levels of intelligence, use different thinking and learning styles, and have different 5 temperaments and personality traits” (Santrock, 2011). Therefore, I found this very important to know that they are doing things properly! Furthermore, there are three main categories regarding learning styles: visual learners, auditory learners, and kinesthetic learners (Teach.com, 2023). When it is time to learn, the children all enter the tabletop room and have their attention focused on the teacher. The person teaching the children included a demonstration, a song, and a craft/activity to go along with their topic. For example, the letter of the day was “B”, so a song went along with it as well as a craft to allow the children to fully grasp what they were learning. I also liked that motivational techniques were involved in the learning process as well; small rewards were given such as snacks and/or relaxation time. Applied Behavior Analysis Therapy (ABA) I wanted to add an additional sub-heading as this is a crucial part of what Full Spectrum Therapy Partners does. Learning and schooling tend to look different for children who are on the spectrum as they receive ABA therapy which is all a part of the learning process. Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) is a therapy which is based on the science of learning and behavior (Autismspeaks.org). This type of therapy can help increase language and communication skills, decrease problem behaviors, and improve attention, focus, social skills, memory, and academics (Autismspeaks.org). Prior to my experience observing, I didn’t truly understand what ABA was until I was able to observe the therapy occurring in real time. On the day I observed, Gianna had a non-verbal client who she gave ABA therapy to; her name was Dylan. Gianna was explaining to me that there is a specific app called ‘Portia’ and this is how she and her coworkers give ABA therapy. Each profile on Portia is specific to the learner’s needs; Dylan, for example, has a lot of academic programs and fine motor skill programs as well. Gianna told me that Dylan is her most verbal non-verbal client; she is able to 6 say more things than other clients can. During Dylan’s therapy sessions, Gianna also asks a series of questions which depend on her specific program (“How old are you, Dylan?” or “Where do you go to school?”). Not only this, but I was informed that Full Spectrum takes the children out in the real world and allows them to experience things any other child would! I feel as if this is also very important because it’s showing inclusivity as well as social skills, life skills, etc. The Exceptional Student (if applicable) N/A Evaluation N/A Questions/Reflections After doing some reflecting on my observations, I 100% think the overall environment is positive, encouraging, and inclusive. When working with this age group (and children on the spectrum), it is extremely important to understand the value of patience and how far it can go in this field. Gianna tells me often that sometimes she does get stressed out, but she doesn’t allow the children to witness her being stressed out. Children on the spectrum can feel an individual’s vibes more than anyone, which is why it’s so important to come to work every day with a positive attitude. I also can tell how much the individuals that work at Full Spectrum Therapy Partners love their job; not only does Gianna tell me how rewarding her job is, but it shows as she is working with the children. Overall, observing the children helped me gain an insight into not only Gianna’s job, but also how emotionally demanding this job is. I would 100% do it again! 7 References Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA). Autism Speaks. (n.d.). https://www.autismspeaks.org/appliedbehavior-analysis Learning styles. What Do Teachers Do? (2023, June 26). https://teach.com/what/teachersknow/learningstyles/#:~:text=One%20of%20the%20most%20accepted,VARK%20model%20of%20Stud ent%20Learning. Santrock, J. W. (2011). Educational Psychology. McGraw-Hill Thompson, P. B., & Taylor, K. (2022). A cultural safety approach to health psychology. Palgrave Macmillan.
