Classroom Environment
Below you will find a link to a diagram of our classroom. I have labeled the various centers or areas of the room so that you can get a feel for the layout of your child's classroom. You will notice that I have grouped the centers that typically produce the most noise (the dance station, water table, block area and dramatic play area) in the lower right quadrant of the diagram, the area to your right as you enter the classroom. This was intentional so as to create some space between the more active, noisy student centers and the quiet classroom centers (the reading nook, writing center, and arts and crafts area).
I have chosen to use round tables as our desks, each sitting four to five students. This allows children to more easily discuss and share their ideas, as well as creates a more even distribution of space around the table. I like to keep the main carpet area open as much as possible so that children can spread out comfortably during morning meetings, whole group discussions, read alouds, and dancing.
After checking out the classroom diagram, please continue to read more in-depth about three of our most popular classroom centers: the block area, the reading nook, and the arts and crafts area.
Click here to open the diagram.
I have chosen to use round tables as our desks, each sitting four to five students. This allows children to more easily discuss and share their ideas, as well as creates a more even distribution of space around the table. I like to keep the main carpet area open as much as possible so that children can spread out comfortably during morning meetings, whole group discussions, read alouds, and dancing.
After checking out the classroom diagram, please continue to read more in-depth about three of our most popular classroom centers: the block area, the reading nook, and the arts and crafts area.
Click here to open the diagram.
Block Area
The block area is always a classroom hotspot. I have arranged two shelves full of blocks in an L-shape, bordering a small carpet. The carpet not only provides a more comfortable surface for children to sit on, but it reduces noise produced by blocks hitting the floor as well. Neatly stacked on the shelves are unit blocks, a type of standardized wooden block popular in early childhood educational settings. The shelves are labeled by outlining the shape of the blocks on contact paper; when it is time to clean up, the children are asked to neatly stack the blocks on top of the corresponding outline on the shelves. The shelves are low, so as to allow children to easily reach the blocks, even while seated on the carpet. I choose to limit the number of children in the block area at any given time to four. This ensures that each child has plenty of room to build with and explore the blocks. If additional children are interested in the block area during free play, they write their names on the waiting list clipboard on top of the block shelves. We then use a timer and the children are given a fifteen minute time limit in the block area, so as to allow other children time in the center.
Reading Nook
The reading nook is one of my favorite classroom centers. Again, I have arranged two shelves in an L-shape, wrapping around a small rug and three beanbags. The shelves are full of both picture books and easy readers for all reading levels. I have chosen to label the shelves by topic rather than reading level or author to encourage children to read about subjects they are interested in, and not necessarily focus on books at their reading level. I have made an effort to include at least a few books in other languages, including French, Russian and Spanish. While in the reading nook, children are welcome to get cozy on a beanbag and snuggle with some stuffed animals, pillows, and/or blankets. I strive to make this area as comfortable and home-like as possible in an effort to provide a quiet place for students to relax, and have some down-time. If the reading nook gets crowded, students are welcome to choose a book and take it to the main carpet area to read.
Arts and Crafts Area
The arts and crafts area is a hub for creative expression in the classroom. Located to the right of the writing center, the arts and crafts table seats up to three students at a time. The table is kept clear, except for the occassional work-in-progress. To the right of the table is a long shelf, stocked with a vast array of available materials. Some of the materials include: colored paper, card stock, markers, colored pencils, crayons, glue, glitter, stencils, scissors, ribbon, string, buttons, and scraps of fabric. The materials are organized in clear tubs with lids and clearly labeled with both a word (or words) and picture of the materials contained within. This allows children who are still acquiring English vocabulary to connect the material they are looking for with the word that identifies it and become familiar with those words over time.