Classroom Environments Essay

898 Words4 Pages
Classroom Environments Most of the time when parents are deciding what they want out of a preschool, their first thoughts are on the curriculum, the quality of the program, the teacher’s credentials, and the helpfulness of the staff. However, the parents do not necessarily realize that the classroom environment, the furniture, and the placement of objects can support developmentally appropriate practices. When the teacher is designing the classroom he or she will need to ensure that the environment caters to the needs and interests of the children. A classroom environment should be supporting of developmentally appropriate practices. The teacher needs to keep in mind the ages of the children as well as any cultural differences. When creating a developmentally appropriate environment the teacher needs to ensure that the environment is designed to help in all areas of development; physical development, cognitive development, social development, and emotional development. Teachers need to ensure that the environment is nurturing and conducive to the children learning independence, socialization, and self-esteem. When creating a space that would best meet the needs of children, the teacher should look first at the lighting. The natural and artificial lighting can help determine where the individual centers could be placed. The colors on the walls and individualized areas also can set the mood for the area. For instance, “red is a good choice for areas planned for gross motor activities and concept development areas” (Decker, Decker, Freeman, & Knopf, 2009. Pg. 127). The colors in the classroom can also incorporate a sense of culture and this will help the children feel more comfortable. The placement of the furniture should be spacious and it needs to be functional as well as safe. The paths around centers and furniture need to be
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