A preschool classroom is more than blocks and sand. An effective classroom incorporates elements such as well-rounded centers, welcoming aesthetics and features that children can identify with. Follow these steps to set up a preschool classroom that helps every parent and child flourish.
Instructions
1. Provide at least five learning centers. Some options include Science/Sensory (sand and water table), Books/Reading, Manipulatives, Art, Drama/Dress Up and Blocks. It is best to allow for one of these centers to be for independent use in order to give the children a place where they can be alone if they choose. Make the centers well defined and easy to recognize.
2. Hang the children's artwork at a level where they can easily see it. If you hang it too high, only the parents notice. It's important for the kids to search for their work and feel pride in their achievement.
3. Run a clothesline from the ceiling tiles to use as a place to dry and display artwork. Simply take a rope and tuck one end above the ceiling tile and tie it around the slat. Do the same with the other end so it hangs at a length of about 8 feet. It doesn't need to be too long--just enough to hang one of each child's art pieces. Be sure it doesn't droop to low. The children shouldn't be able to reach it.
4. Create a soft spot to curl up with a book. Some teachers hang netting from the ceiling in the corner of the room to create a little nook. You can achieve the same feel with an old bathtub full of pillows, a play teepee or a pile of bean bag chairs.
5. Maintain a flow of traffic that makes sense. Arrange your furniture so that it's easy for kids and parents to enter the room, hang coats and bags, move from center to center and walk to the bathroom and sink area.
6. Assign cubbies and/or table places so that each child has a place in the room that belongs to him or her. This helps create a balance between sharing and ownership.
Tags: each child, from ceiling, preschool classroom, where they