Another 5 minute observation I did for class. I'm beginning to really enjoy these!
Introductory Comment: The setting is in the classroom during lunch time. Five learners are seated around the table eating their lunch. A has refused to finish his usual lunch of granola bars. A cup of juice and a plate with peas are also on the table in front of him. The teacher has just turned his chair around to talk to him.
Observation: A is wearing a plaid shirt and maroon corduroy overalls. His chair faces away from the table. The teacher is seated across from him and she holds his arms. She says, “You are sitting like this because you have not taken a bite of your food. When you take a bite, you can sit with your friends again.” She pauses and looks at him. She puts the bar in his left hand. He puts the bar to his mouth biting a small piece. She says, “That is not a real bite.” She takes his hand with the bar and moves it toward his mouth. She lets go and he takes a bigger bite. She says, “That’s better.” She turns his chair around to face the table again. She gives him a wipey when he finishes his bar. There is a cup of juice unfinished. He wipes his face once, and then tries to wipe the crumbs off his pants. She says, “You can wipe of the crumbs from your pants after you finish.” The teacher walks away to get some napkins for another student. A does not say a word. He takes one pea and eats it. He takes another and eats it. He takes about 10 more peas and eats it. I silently direct the teacher’s attention to A. She puts more peas on his plate. He takes 4 more pieces. She says, “Very good A.” The teacher assistant says, “Now that deserves clapping!” The whole class claps. The staff says, “Yay!” A puts a pea down and makes a crying or whimpering sound.
Comments, Impressions:
After this observation, the teacher said that I should observe more often because it produces miracles. Since September, A has only eaten dry foods with struggle with me or the teacher. Lately he has been able to finish a whole granola bar which was a huge step for him. Last week, the teacher moved meal time to a later time and he finished 2 granola bars without resistance. I have come to realize that if I don’t prod him or leave him alone with his food; he will eventually eat it by himself. The less attention he gets during mealtime, the more he will eat. I realized during this intervention, he was doing fine, up until the staff praised him. Regarding the clapping, A has learned to clap every time he is praised. Lately he has been doing it too much so we have discouraged him from clapping every time he does something good. Since eating the peas was a very big deal for him and the staff, we made an exception. I’m not sure why he cried, but it probably has something to do with the over-attention. Also, he used to cry “on cue” whenever food was presented to him—perhaps it was a delayed reaction?
