Preschool Classroom Environment

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School

San Bernardino Valley College *

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Course

205

Subject

Health Science

Date

Apr 28, 2024

Type

docx

Pages

2

Uploaded by SuperField14027 on coursehero.com

Preschool Classroom Environment 1. Room Arrangements- Room arrangements need to be well planned, organized, and be developmentally appropriate to meet all children’s needs. The physical arrangement of the room needs to create a child friendly flow with clear traffic patterns that neither interfere with children’s play nor promote any type of running or dangerous behaviors in the room. Classrooms should be clean and free of clutter. Therefore, materials and consumables in the room are for the children and should be stored in labeled child friendly containers (in English, and individual children’s home language). Materials and consumables need to be accessible and available for children to use freely and independently. Also, it’s important to make use of open-ended materials and loose parts as this allow children to be creators rather than consumers of their learning. 2. Interest Centers and Play Areas- When setting up the preschool classroom, learning centers should be designated for specific types of exploration and activities. Organization is key for children to explore what is available and where things are located to allow for easy access and cleanup. The environment sets the stage for the learning opportunities that can occur. Centers should be divided by noise level and purpose. Example, louder and quieter centers should be separate from one another. 3. Displays- Classroom walls should display children’s work and be reflective of their interests and experiences. Teachers should invite the children to discuss their work and note it on the displays, this way the children can take pride in their creations and know this is a place for them. Displays should be changed regularly and should not be filled with store- bought posters or teacher-created decorations. Also, teachers should encourage children to bring in pictures of themselves and their family members. Displays should have purpose and meaning and mainly be at the child’s eye level. 4. Schedule: Routines/Transitions- Children need a predictable, consistent daily routine that balances active and less active times and balances teacher-guided time and time for child-initiated play both inside and out. Time for meals, rest, and toileting are also incorporated. The schedule should include at least an hour each morning of free choice center time as well as at least 45 minutes of gross motor activity daily in a six-hour program. Whole and small group times are limited to 10-15 minutes and never more than 20 minutes (older children) to maintain children’s interest and engagement, as well as to ensure ample time for center play and choice. Also, its important to note that only because children can sit for longer periods of time doesn’t mean they should. It is important to always keep in mind that children are active learners who learn through their play and should be included in their schedule. 5. Health and Safety-
Health and safety in a preschool classroom will help teach the children to demonstrate appropriate hygiene practices and increase children's development of self-help skills. It also helps children develop the skills needed to become aware of any potential hazards to themselves or to others in their immediate surroundings. 6. Classroom Management & Class Rules- Teachers use a variety of strategies for classroom management that include involving children in establishing classroom rules. Example when sitting in the carpet for circle time we remind and show visual to children of what’s expected and how we do it. Also, classroom management is something that’s automatic or magically appears its something that you have to work very hard at it and without the learning would be very difficult you have to calm yourself because child and read it and they copy you. 7. Building Classroom Community- A teacher needs to promote and maintain the classroom as a caring and warm community. This is done by creating a positive learning environment. Preschool children need to feel safe and comfortable within their classroom. The teacher needs to plan and organize a classroom that will develop children’s self-confidence and positive feelings towards the learning environment and their peers. The classroom should allow children to use materials and provide them with opportunities that are meaningful and of interest to not only an individual child but also to the entire group of children. By creating and establishing positive teacher- child, and child-child relationships in the classroom, the community will begin to establish classroom friendships, and trusting relationships. This will help develop the classroom from a place that the child must be, to a place that the child wants and loves to be at.
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