+1 862 207 3288 EDU 119 Chapter 9: Creating Environments
This chapter, as you can tell, is very lengthy and encompasses a ton of information. Being able to plan and create a successful learning environment is a key to good teaching and effective classroom management. Environment is more than just the physical classroom space. It includes how you organize your space and present it aesthetically so that it encourages learning and cooperation. Environment also includes your time in these spaces and how you use them.
You are captain of your classroom ship and running a smooth course means lots of thought and attention to your spaces. A personal example I can provide for you is this: At the beginning of one school year I rearranged my classroom. I have always had an emotions center in my room where children can seek comfort and exploration of how they are feeling. Over the past couple of months I have noticed how even though I only allow 2 children at the most to go in there at one time, I have had to call down lots of misuse of this center such as roughhousing. Instead of continually fussing at children about how they are using the space, I sat down in that center and let it “talk to me”. I realized that although to me as an adult, the space felt small, when I put myself down in the child’s view, the space was quite large for some movement. The space was not communicating the “low activity level” I was seeking for it. Therefore, it was time to rearrange again. In 2 days time, several children have gone to this center and used it as it was meant to be. We always must remember that we are ‘responsible’ for designing spaces and how they ‘communicate’ to children for use. It’s on us!
Assignments:Read chapter 9
Assignment 1: Daily Schedules Remembering; Understanding, Applying & Analyzing
Your chapter discusses what daily schedules in early childhood classrooms are and why they are needed. The following activities are to help you understand some important components about daily schedules for each age group too. Read the following webpages before beginning this work.
http://www.pbs.org/wholechild/providers/little.html
http://www.extension.org/pages/25720/establishing-predictable-routines-in-a-child-care-setting#.VSG-e9zF-UQ
http://csefel.vanderbilt.edu/kits/wwbtk4.pdf(pages 5-16 of this resource only)
1. Why is it important to have consistent daily schedules in early childhood classrooms? (2 points)
2. Why do teachers need to identify transition times in their classrooms? (2 points)
3. What are 2 things a teacher can do before a transition to make it flow smooth? (2 points)
4. What are 2 things a teacher can do during the transition to make it flow smooth? (2 points)
5. What are 2 things a teacher can do after the transition to make it flow smooth? (2 points)
6. Discuss in detail why an infant schedule and a preschool age group schedule need to be different? (10 points)
Assignment 1: Daily Schedules continued:
Copy and paste the questions onto a word document and then answer them underneath each question. Post in assignments under “daily schedules”. Worth 20 points total.
Assignment 2: Creating Environments: Evaluating & Creating
In this assignment you are going to write separate paragraphs on how you would design apre school age group (3-5 year olds) classroom environment under each provided heading. Write paragraphs of at least 10 sentences under each of the following classroom areas: dramatic play; music; blocks; science; literacy; manipulatives; creative arts.
In each of these areas you must include at least the following: describe the size of the space you would need, flooring or floor coverings, equipment (such as shelves or no shelves) and materials, how you would address health& safety, how you would visually define the space, how you would include children with special needs, how you would prevent conflicts and how you would encourage self-help skills. Also include how you would represent diversity in each area and any child-related displays you would put on the walls. I will do an example since this assignment makes up most of your grade which is 80 points.Please follow the example if you want full credit for your work.
**Instructors Example**
Four and five year old wet sensory play space:
I would begin with a water table designed for play space for 2 children and easy clean-up with a spout. I would place it near a sink for handwashing before and after water/sensory play and provide aprons to keep children dry and clean. I would use a 3×5 indoor/outdoor rug underneath the water table that is meant to absorb water so that spilled water will not cause slipping and falling. Also, the rug would help define where children needed to keep their bodies in this center. Underneath the table I would place a large tub with about 5-7 different water play toys that children can access on their own. These would include a pump toy, measuring cups, smallboats, squirt bottles with lids to screw on and off and sponges. I would provide at least 2 of each larger item and 4 of each smaller item to prevent conflict over sharing single items. For children with special needs would want to make sure a child in a wheelchair could access this table with adjustable table legs so they can reach in. I would display pictures of children in play there, laminated for protection of water damage and show appropriate play in this center. A rhyme I could put there would be “Row Your Boat” and the illustrations could include children of various races and abilities such as wearing glasses. I could also include dolls of different cultures for children to pretend to bathe and at other times put in dishes from different cultures such as a wok. Finally, I could put different aquatic animals from around the world for the children to explore and play with.
There are 7 areas for you to plan. Write your document and turn it in under “planning environments” on Assignments. Each area is worth 10 points for a total of 70 points on this part. For the other 10 points to complete the total 80 for the assignment, you will copy and paste one of your areas you have planned and post it on the forum discussion board. Then read your peers postings and comment on at least 2 others postings. Comments such as “your space sounds great” or “I haven’t thought of that” will not count for the points. You must comment on some details of a peer’s posting and write 3-5 sentences in a response to them.
Journal: Thinking back over your school years, remember the classrooms you were in. What classrooms did you love to be in and why? Which ones did you not feel comfortable in and why? Explain the environments for both and include details that can be visually imagined by myself in your descriptions as to why you did or did not like these classrooms. 25 points.
TAKE ADVANTAGE OF OUR PROMOTIONAL DISCOUNT DISPLAYED ON THE WEBSITE AND GET A DISCOUNT FOR YOUR PAPER NOW!
