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Creating Environments for Learning Third Edition Julie Bullard

Book Cover will be inserted here.

Chapter 5

Arranging an Effective Environment

Creating Environments for Learning: Birth to Age Eight, 3e Bullard

An effective environment includes high quality learning centers; an effectively arranged room; appropriate furniture, dividers, and shelving; and adequate storage.

Creating Environments for Learning: Birth to Age Eight, 3e Bullard

What is a learning center?

A learning center is a self-contained area with a variety of hands-on materials organized around a curriculum area or topic.

Creating Environments for Learning: Birth to Age Eight, 3e Bullard

Learning centers:

promote learning that is active and child centered
provide child choice thereby allowing for individual learning styles, developmental levels, and interests
allow children to become highly engaged with hands on learning materials
allow teachers to be facilitators of learning

Creating Environments for Learning: Birth to Age Eight, 3e Bullard

Did you know?

Research indicates that children who have a choice of activities are more self-directed, have less disruptive behavior, and are more engaged in tasks (Dunlap, et al., 1994).

Creating Environments for Learning: Birth to Age Eight, 3e Bullard

Effective room arrangements have:

well designed entry spaces

well established boundaries between centers

coherent circulation paths

a variety of strategically placed learning centers

retreat areas or places to be alone and places to gather as a group

Creating Environments for Learning: Birth to Age Eight, 3e Bullard

Did you know?

When there are places to retreat children:

interact more with peers
engage in less wandering behavior
are less hostile and aggressive (Sheehan & Day, 1975)
Cognitive development is enhanced (Moore, 2002)

Creating Environments for Learning: Birth to Age Eight, 3e Bullard

This cozy, retreat area encourages children to relax while reading a book. What are some other ideas for retreat areas?

Creating Environments for Learning: Birth to Age Eight, 3e Bullard

When planning infant environments provide:

comfortable, pleasant place for nursing mothers

enough room for individual cribs or baskets in a quiet area

a diaper-changing area with a sink large enough to bathe a child with an adjacent counter to hold supplies

convenient storage for strollers

easy access to food preparation

Creating Environments for Learning: Birth to Age Eight, 3e Bullard

Infant environments also need:

comfortable places for adults to sit on or near the floor

space and a variety of surface levels for infants to practice their gross motor skills

an open area so infants can play with balls and push and pull toys

low, secure shelving containing manipulative toys such as rattles

a book area with sturdy books

Creating Environments for Learning: Birth to Age Eight, 3e Bullard

Toddler environments need to provide:

A variety of learning centers

dramatic play

creative art

literacy

music

sensory

manipulative

block

alone or retreat area

Creating Environments for Learning: Birth to Age Eight, 3e Bullard

Toddler environments also need to provide:

room for gross motor activities

uneven surfaces for practicing climbing up and down

a diaper-changing station with steps

small low toilets

storage for small cots, strollers, car seats

Creating Environments for Learning: Birth to Age Eight, 3e Bullard

Did you know?

It is best for toddlers if the learning centers are not totally enclosed on all sides. When children are able to see the teacher they use more of the room (Legendre, 1999).

Creating Environments for Learning: Birth to Age Eight, 3e Bullard

Preschool environments need to contain a variety of learning centers:

dramatic play

creative art

literacy

music

sensory

computers (ideally the computers are integrated into other centers)

manipulative

science

math

block and building

retreat or alone area

Creating Environments for Learning: Birth to Age Eight, 3e Bullard

Preschool environments also need to:

contain storage for long-term work

provide for sleepers and non-sleepers

contain bathrooms within the classroom

contain a space to gather as a group

Creating Environments for Learning: Birth to Age Eight, 3e Bullard

K-3 classrooms need to contain a variety of learning centers:

math

social science

manipulative

literacy

science

music

block and construction

drama

creative art

computer and research (this may be integrated into other centers)

retreat or alone area

Creating Environments for Learning: Birth to Age Eight, 3e Bullard

K-3 classrooms also need to:

have space to gather as a group

storage for long-term projects

Creating Environments for Learning: Birth to Age Eight, 3e Bullard

Early childhood bathrooms need to:

be located in the classroom, if at all possible

be cleaned and sanitized regularly

be child size (small toilets, low sinks)

be aesthetic (plants, mirrors, artwork, interesting textures)

provide learning opportunities (clear plumbing pipes, instructions on hand-washing)

Creating Environments for Learning: Birth to Age Eight, 3e Bullard

Diaper-changing stations need to:

Be designed to provide tranquil, one-on-one time with an adult

Reduce back strain for teachers through providing steps and making sure the diaper-changing station is the correct height

Be safe, sanitary, and adequately ventilated

Provide an aesthetic, interesting environment (plants, mirrors, mobiles, baskets, interesting textures)

Creating Environments for Learning: Birth to Age Eight, 3e Bullard

Sleeping areas need to:

meet the differing needs of children (for example children who do not nap often play in the quiet areas of the classroom)
provide for relaxation (dim lights, drawn shades, quiet music, backrubs)
be healthy

cots placed at least three feet apart

bedding stored so that it does not touch the bedding of other children

Creating Environments for Learning: Birth to Age Eight, 3e Bullard

SIDS (Sudden Infant Death Syndrome)

SIDS is the leading cause of death in babies under one-year-old (Center for Disease Control and Prevention, 2012).

To help prevent SIDS, it is crucial that babies be put to sleep on their backs and that nothing be placed in the crib with the baby (Center for Disease Control and Prevention, 2012).

Creating Environments for Learning: Birth to Age Eight, 3e Bullard

Furniture and dividers must:

provide for learning opportunities
be safe and healthy
be aesthetically pleasing
be ergonomical
be comfortable for children and adults

What is the advantage of this type of chair?

Creating Environments for Learning: Birth to Age Eight, 3e Bullard

Appropriate shelving:

allows children to easily access toys and materials
provides a backdrop for the materials

Did you know?

It is best to avoid bright, primary colors that compete with the materials. Instead, select shelving and furniture that is light colored to place an emphasis on the materials and to maximize the lighting (Pardee, 2005).

Creating Environments for Learning: Birth to Age Eight, 3e Bullard

Appropriate storage is critical to:

reduce clutter

save time

make materials accessible

enhance the rotation of materials

maximize the use of resources

Creating Environments for Learning: Birth to Age Eight, 3e Bullard

There is a need for different types of storage

Materials that are currently being used by children should be placed on low, open shelves
Personal storage is necessary for children and for adults
Adult storage is needed for:

replenishment and rotation of children’s materials and toys

teacher materials and files

cooking, cleaning, and medical supplies

Creating Environments for Learning: Birth to Age Eight, 3e Bullard

Did you know?

It is typically best to have a variety of types of storage located near where the materials will be used.

Creating Environments for Learning: Birth to Age Eight, 3e Bullard

Effective environments can enhance relationships and support program goals, leading to increased learning, independence, and competence in children. Furthermore, the environment can welcome participants by providing a comfortable, joyful place to learn and work.