Day FourThe materials that we provide in our learning environments are the meat and potatoes behind the curriculum and learning process. Why is choosing materials important? Materials reflect the values you want to communicate about learning. It communicates to children that we see them as capable and competent learners. “Children constantly use materials to learn about the world, explore their questions, and represent their thinking.” Learning Together with Young Children The materials we choose can draw children in, and want them to stay for a while to explore, investigate and learn something new in the process. or... The materials we choose can turn children away from the learning process. When you start to see the learning process differently, you will start to see the potential of the materials to inspire learning. Take the time to reflect back onto your own childhood…
Now take those memories with you as you choose material to invite learning. Task: Gather a collection of materials that draw you in. Explore these materials with a colleague make a list of all the different opportunities you had in learning with these materials.
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Day ThreeToday we are going to talk about toys. Teachers are natural collectors, and after a few years your classroom can get filled with too much stuff. Remember that young children can be overstimulated by all of the materials in the classroom, which can lead to some very frustrated and unhappy children. An unorganized classroom can also lead to laziness and lack of concern for the materials provided. Lastly and probably the most important is an unorganized classroom gives the impression to parents, community and administration that you might be a nice and well-loved teacher, but you are not a very professional one. A well-organized classroom tells children and parents that you care. It sets the mood of those entering right from the start, and it tells people that you are a professional that cares about those living in the environment. You are probably asking yourself right about now, where do I start? De-cluttering is the first essential step to transform your learning environment to one that invites learning. Step One- Grab three large plastic tubs. Label each one trash, recycling and donation. I like to place my tubs on a dolly (ask the janitor) this way I can move smoothly through my classroom as I de-clutter each area.
Step Two- Put on some fun and fabulous music. This will help you get in the grove and enjoy the process of de-cluttering. Step Three- Dance around your classroom and discard any materials that are broken, have missing pieces or they just don’t get used. Now go to your storage area and do the same thing, but in your storage area I want you to get rid of anything that you have not used in the last year or two. If you have not used it in that long chances are you will never use it again, and it is just taking up valuable space. Step Four- This is probably the most important step, and that is to remember that it is going to get worse before it gets better. Step Five- Make an inventory list of everything that you are keeping. Keep this list with you so that when you are out and about and see storage containers on sale or you see all of those fabulous containers in the dollar section of target you can find the best containers for the job.
Task:
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Day TwoThere are three teachers of children, adults, other children, and their physical environment. Loris Malaguzzi The choices we make about our environment create a link directly to the play and learning in the classroom. We are going to talk today about how we can render a great influence What does the environment as the third teacher mean?
Early childhood environments should be inviting and cultivate children’s curiosity, wonder and imagination. - Curtis and Carter The physical environment that we create can either enhance or interfere with children’s learning and independence. What this means is that children learn just as much from the placement of hands on materials in the classroom environment as they do from guided instruction. I challenge you to re-examine every inch of your classroom environment for the message that it conveys to the people using it, and expand your vision of what is possible. Things to consider: Values – What values do you want to communicate to those that use the space? Experiences – How do you want children, teachers and families experiencing their time in your environment? Identity – How do you demonstrate that you respect the identity of children and their families? There is no better time than now to start envisioning and creating a beautiful environment for children where they grow, thrive and are inspired to explore and discover. Task Two: Think about your classroom and how it makes you feel and the people that live in it. To help you with this process answer the few questions below or print and use the worksheet.
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Welcome!I'm Tami Sanders creator of Learning and Teaching with Preschoolers, a blog to help teachers create magical moments for the young. Follow MeArchives
May 2024
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