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supply teacher has a child in her lap. Franca seems surrounded and inaccessible in the
corner and Mary sits up front. Mary says, “Let’s get started. I see a lot of my friends
brought things to share with us” She mentions one particular child who has brought in a
TV guide that has a picture of Harry Potter. Mary asks the child to “tell us about it.” The
child holds the TV guide so that the children can see the picture but his response is
inaudible. Mary asks him a couple of questions about the movie, i.e. “what is your
favourite part?” The child answers but very quietly. The other children seem to be getting
restless.
Another child displays a plastic bottle filled with rocks. Mary asks her to “tell us about it”
The child responds that she put the rocks in the bottle to “keep them safe.” Mary prompts
her about the bottle and what it resembles and the child responds “like maracas, it makes
noise.” Another child has brought in a book “What colour is your underwear.” Mary
reads the book to the children.
Then another child shows the children a puzzle which is new and unopened. The puzzle
is about the Lion King. This is the first item related to the project that is going on in the
classroom, which is animals. Mary asks the child to “tell us about that” and the child
stands up and points and discusses the puzzle. Mary then directs the children towards
another child, “everyone look at…” The child has brought in a book created at home
using animal stickers. Some of the children continue to be restless and Mary reminds
them to put their “hands in your lap, we are listening now.” Mary reads the book that the
child brought. She then asks the children to give the child a clap and suggests that this is
something all children can do with “mommy and daddy.”
At this point there are about 6 children that seem to be focused on the meeting and 8 who
are not. Franca seems a little frustrated as she cannot move about to redirect some of the
children. Mary reminds the children to “stay on your bottom.” A couple of children get
up to find something to share. When one brings a picture and says “this is my picture, I
drawed it here.” Mary asks “who is it?” and the child responds “Cinderella.” Another