A Real Classroom at The Copper Nest Preschool
As teachers, our classrooms are our homes away from home. Because we love and care for the people whom enter, classrooms are different that your typical work "office". AND because we spend so much time there, it's important that we feel comfortable and HAPPY in our classrooms.
But what do you do if you HATE your classroom? It's a mess, the materials are old and junky, the children aren't engaged. In early childhood, your classroom should act as the third teacher--a concept widely utilized by Reggio Emilia. If your classroom is hindering rather than helping you, then it's definitely time for a refresh. So where do you start?
ASSESS
Spend some time (a few weeks) observing the children in your classroom. Which materials are used most often? More importantly, which toys/materials are SUPPORTING optimal development? If there are some blocks in your classroom that always get dumped out on the rug, but don't really engage the children in creative, open-ended building, then ditch 'em! Plastic toy food? Get rid of it! I will teach you how to use multi-purpose loose parts as play food in another post. Additionally, if there is something in your classroom that bugs YOU--for whatever reason it is--let it go. You set the tone for the vibe of the classroom and if there are things in there that are bugging you, your mood will reflect that. Children don't need a lot of "stuff". More on that coming....
PURGE
Start purging. Ever heard of Mario Kondo? Well she says, if an item is not beautiful and bringing you (or the children in your classroom) joy, then it's time for it to go. Spend some time going through all of the toys in your classroom. If they are old, junky, or NOT regularly played with, DONATE or trash them. Let it go. This step will allow for the space you need to keep going.
STORE AND ROTATE
You may feel like you need to have a lot of choices out for the children in your classroom. I promise you, less is more. Too many toys = over-stimulation and decision making fatigue. By having fewer toys, you are encouraging creativity, problem solving and imagination. That's not to say that there shouldn't be a variety of materials. But accessibility is what I am talking about here. Rather than have every single toy that you possess out in the open, try rotating toys as you see the children needing it. How can you tell if they need a toy rotation? Well, simply observe their play. If they are engaged and coming up with new and exciting ways to use the materials, then you are good. If they are easily distracted and "dumping and going", then it may be time for a rotation. Also don't be afraid to re-arrange the furniture. Sometimes this is all it takes to have a big impact.
AESTETHICS
Colors, textures, things on the wall, furniture. All of these things affect our mood and how we interact with an environment. It's no secret that teachers aren't the highest paid professionals, so completely re-doing your classroom from the paint to the materials to the toys is likely impossible. However, you can start making small changes over time that will make a huge difference. For example, stick to a neutral color scheme for the walls and furniture. If you dont want or aren't allowed to paint, hang some neutral fabrics. Children's artwork should make up for the pops of color on your walls. Add some live plants to bring in calming affects and air purification. Choose rugs that are calm, soft and have muted colors. Use real baskets instead of plastic bins when you can. Check your lighting and if need be, hang some fabric from the ceiling to mask the flourescent lights. Our mood and the energy in our classrooms is a relfection of the environment.
QUALITY TOYS
Think about how you feel when you pick up a beautiful piece of wood versus a plastic bowl. The texture, the smell, and the beauty of the materials is starkly different. The same is true for toys. Cheap toys usually result in cheap play. Now I don't mean "cheap" cost-wise. Many of the best toys are free actually. Think of sticks, rocks and leaves. What I mean by cheap is poorly made and sensorially unpleasing. Quality materials usually end up resulting in higher quality play. What does quality mean? Non-toxic, open-ended and made with natural or recycled materials as much as possible. If you need some ideas, check out our shop or FREE Toy Guide.
Start with these suggestions and see how things shift in your classrooms. I'm willing to bet you will see changes in the whole vibe of your group, because you will feel calmer and more happy in your environment. In turn, so will your students.
If you'd like to chat things out with me about your specfic classrooms, I would love nothing more than to help. I have helped design countless classrooms and believe in the power of changing things up. Schedule a call here: Schedule a Call
Share in the comments about what is working/not working for you.