Port Folio Objective 1.3

Objective 1.3

Specifies the teaching approaches you’ll use & the learning environments you’ll create to support the social dimensions of early literacy/numeracy.

Resource

While completing my work placement I was lucky enough to take part in a new workshop describing seven principles to incorporate into early childhood classroom design. The workshop resource was taken from the information book titled ‘inspiring spaces for young children’ and written by a collection of early educators. The following principles are determined to improve and exaggerate the learning potential within the classroom scenario by focussing on infusing elements of nature and sense stimulation. The learning environment is known as one of the most important aspects to a young child’s ability to grasp new concepts and understand new information.

The primary positioning is to cause a more inviting room for children that provides intriguing situations and activities that offer children to use many of their senses. If all seven of the principles are combined and used within the same room of the centre, the complete feel of the room changes for the better providing more motivation and stimulation for people who enter the space.

Principle 1: Nature Inspires Beauty

The natural environment is all around us and excites humans to use many different senses of visual beauty, sounds, tastes, aromas and textures to aid in their education. The visual appearance of the classroom should include many natural reflections mirroring the environment that surrounds you and inspire young children to interact and take responsibility for the planet they live on. I would love to further help children understand the importance of conservation and sustainability by using my science degree to develop a course program where hands on activities and visual information are the primary source of learning.

Principle 2: Colour Generates Interest

Colour is a common method used to distinguish between objects and help children understand a greater variety of activities, one in particular that comes to my mind is patterning and sequencing. Both positive and negative outcomes can come about from the use of colour in an early childhood centre. For example the mood of people using the space can be extremely positive if the colour is used correctly. Small sections within the room can be transformed into smaller areas with different coloured walls which also may imitate common social areas and homes experienced by the children. Too many bright colours can clash and have an overpowering effect on children causing a negative educational experience. Too many colours are surely going to confuse their learning and offer many distractions from the task at hand. The article in question suggests a neutral backdrop for the education centre is most beneficial for successful absorption of information, due to a less cluttered space for brain activity.

Principle 3: Furnishings Define Space

Each classroom is different and each centre has different abilities and accessibility to furniture causing the educators imagination to come into play when designing a room. The positions that each item is placed, creates a unique image for the class and can have real importance in making children feel comfortable and enthusiastic about learning. The quality of children’s interest and learning will increase when the area is inviting and exciting. The only way to achieve these goals is place items in a certain way to enhance the activity it is supporting using correct size ratios for children to benefit and have full access. I would love to include child sized furniture in my own centre which I believe will help children feel welcome and be encouraged to participate in more activities in the program. Using shelving and tables can separate the room into sections helping children learn independence as well as group work. My favourite idea is to have a sofa inside the classroom which is surrounded by a mesh net hanging from the ceiling. The net is see-through allowing constant watch of children but will act as a method of privacy for children to read in or have time for reflection.

Principle 4: Texture Adds Depth

The natural environment has many textures that appeal to the sights and touch, creating interest and unusual enjoyment for all. The article suggests that texture offers a ‘unique tactile experience’ for young children while they are encouraged to use all senses and skills. Within the classroom, it is important to have a variety of different textures available for touching or sorting for example. Each of the textures can have a related activity or be connected to the environment either from coming directly from the source of being something children can compare to living objects. Many abilities including all motor skills and visual links can be learnt through these activities. Simple props could include two baskets of acorns where children can touch and move their hands through the smooth objects, offering some smaller cups could encourage children to sort and count while moving the acorns from one place to another.

Principle 5: Displays Enhance Environment

This section is all about bringing the outside environment inside using displays and activities resembling and including nature. Another method is removing the clutter and paperwork quite often taped on the windows and allowing the natural light and views to enter the classroom creating peace and serenity. Having containers and baskets for sorting and storing all items in the classroom will not only maintain a tidy workspace but also a clean area for children to learn in. This is particularly important as having clutter around affects the ability to remain focussed and absorb quality information. I plan to include the environment very strongly in my centre set up, with plants and animals playing a big role in education. They can be used for many activities and include all subjects. Biology would be common with life cycles and growth as a focus while literacy would include drawing and pencil work and numeracy would contain a lot of patterning and measurement.

Principle 6: Elements Heighten Ambience

If children are placed in a stressful situation, chances are that levels of learning are compromised and not progressive. Methods to keep the centre relaxing and supportive may include different arrays of lighting for different atmospheres and moods. Dim lights in the restful area with small pop lights and reading lights will create a mood that encourages children to read more books and invites them in to the reading corner. Candles are another great source of ambience and can contain scents specific for relaxation and entice children to use their scent sense which quite often educators overlook as an important learning tool. Having a variety of different lights and senses will assist children in thinking creatively and interacting in group situations as well as connect to the environment in which they are learning.

Principle 7: Focal Points Attract Attention

All learning centres should have a specific focal point which draws the eye in and offers a subject of conversation for both children and parents. It can be any item including art from the children, a natural object brought inside of a structural creation where children can engage and learn more about the topic surrounding it. The focal point can change through the weeks to provide more stimuli for children and help entice more group participation and environmental awareness.

These seven simple principles offer great advice for change to an early childhood centre where the changes are so minimal with such an amazing impact on the mood of the centre and the learning quality of the children. Creating a beautiful classroom environment also has a large impact on how teachers can assess their teaching qualities and improve their methods of teaching subjects necessary for life educations. The physical appearance of the classroom will not only benefit the moods but the progressions of the learning. Children will want to learn more as the centre is more engaging and inviting, while the parents of the students will carry the ideas of nature into their home environment and conversations with the children due to multiple interests of everyone involved.

I am extremely excited for the time when I am able to plan my classroom in a way that will encourage children to be passionate about the environment and include many different natural perspectives for children to enjoy. Using the seven principles of design as a focus for the room image will give many opportunities to support and extend learning activities where children can feel in control of the atmosphere.