Learning Environments

Inspiring Environments

Sandra Duncan and others wrote about beautiful environments they found in their visits and working in many classrooms. Check out their book, and these videos:

Deviney, J., Duncan, S., Harris, S., Rody, M.A., Rosenberry, L. (2010). Inspiring Spaces for Young Children. Lewisville, NC: Gryphon House.

Deviney, J., Duncan, S., Harris, S., Rody, M.A., Rosenberry, L. (2010). Rating Observation Scale for Inspiring Environments: A Companion Observation Guide for Inspiring Spaces for Young Children. Lewisville, NC: Gryphon House.

Seven principles of aesthetic design - -

1 nature inspires beauty

2 color generates interest

3 furnishing define space

4 texture adds depth

5 displays enhance environment

6 elements heighten ambience

7 focal points attract attention

https://youtu.be/IZtRSvURTVY

https://youtu.be/2RD9XOow20E

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Cutest Farmhouse Classroom

Now, wedon't generally equate 'cute' with 'quality', but in this case both are true!

Five or so years back, Hank was sitting right where you are. Not here in McKinney or Corsicana, but in this class on Designing Early Childhood Learning Environments. He went on to Internship and Residency, and was hired to teach Kindergarten at the same school. After many successful years, he moved to Third Grade, just in time to meet this author's child, who called it "The Cutest Farmhouse Classroom You Ever Saw" https://salvagedliving.com/the-cutest-farmhouse-classroom-you-ever-saw/.

What design elements of Inspiring Spaces do you see in Hank's classroom? Definitely, he is following Joanna Gaines of the Magnolia companies of Waco https://magnolia.com/blog/. But Hank has done so much more to inspire his students, and us.

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Prepared Environment

Montessori programs focus on the prepared environment as a major component of the Montessori Method. Here are examples of that ideal:
https://montessori-ami.org/about-montessori/montessori-environments

http://www.montessori.com/montessori-schools/montessori-classrooms/

Lillard – Montessori Principles .PPT

A school architect talks about what schools look like:

Nair (2005) Are Schools Good for Children? .ppt

Learning Centers

Morrow, Strickland, & Woo. (1998). Literacy Environment .pdf

Evaluating Learning Environments

3. Evaluate a specific learning environment, utilizing one of the design criteria discussed in D2L: Tools: DocSharing: Evaluating Environments.pdf

Aligns with Student Learning Outcomes: B, C, D, E

The trained teacher constantly evaluates the environment, following the child for clues about what works and what doesn’t. The child engages the environment as a fundamental component of her quest for knowing, engaging, learning, and growing. The young child studies a prepared environment, a classroom for clues to understand how the adults value learning.

Think of a space designed for children, a classroom, a playground or a home environment. To what extent do the following learning environment evaluation tools describe that space? Use one or more of these checklists/standards/tools to thoughtfully evaluate the effectiveness of an environment, then proceed to write a short essay, 3-5 paragraphs, 1-3 pages, double spaced, summarizing your evaluation process.

NAEYC Program Standards for Accreditation

www.naeyc.org/our-work/families/10-naeyc-program-standards

Standard 9: Physical Environment

https://www.naeyc.org/our-work/families/10-naeyc-program-standards#9

An organized, properly equipped, and well-maintained program environment facilitates the learning, comfort, health, and safety of the children and adults who use the program.

Inspiring Environments
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=74eRBi_wi40

Rating Observation Scale for Inspiring Environments ROSIE
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O-SDG-8kRLE

Kostelnik, Soderman, Whirer, & Rupiper Evaluating Environments .PDF

Among the variety of tools to help teachers evaluate their classrooms, this list of 19 questions from Kostelnik, Soderman, Whiren, & Rupiper (2019, p. 147) will be useful in evaluating environments.

1. Children move from one part of the room to another without interfering with other children.
2. Pathways and boundaries between learning centers are clear.
3. Areas are arranged to encourage active child choice.
4. Storage is labeled and near center so that children can put things away.
5. Shelves are neat and uncluttered.
6. Quiet areas are clustered away from more active, noisy areas.
7. There are places where children may work alone, with a small group, or in a large group.
8. Children and adults can gather comfortably in the large group space.
9. Temporary centers are adjacent to related core centers.
10. Adults see the children all the times.
11. The setting has been checked for safety.
12. Furnishings are child size, clean, and comfortable.
13. Decorations reflect the children’s specific backgrounds, experiences, and identities.
14. Differences in ethnicity, ability, culture, and economic conditions are reflected in the books, pictures, and other materials in the classroom.
15. The environment is filled with words, books, and symbols.
16. Children can do things independently in some centers.
17. Children make choices, use materials appropriately and with care, and experience success in most or all centers.
18. There is a convenient place for children to keep personal belongings.
19. Adult areas are separated from child areas.

Scholastic Teacher Tools – videos on classroom design

www.scholastic.com/teacher/videos/teacher-videos.htm#3190980573001/2555097169001

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* The Texas Teacher Evaluation and Support System (T-TESS) is a system designed by educators to support teachers in their professional growth.
https://teachfortexas.org/Views/Teachers

The T-TESS Rubric (PDF) contains 4 Domains and 16 Dimensions. We are only looking at Domain 3, and its three Dimensions.

T-TESS Domain 3: Learning Environment

Dimension 3:1 Classroom Environment, Routines and Procedures
Dimension 3:2 Managing Student Behavior
Dimension 3:3 Classroom Culture

www.youtube.com/watch?v=1r1QsIhqIhQ

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* NAP Assessing Early Childhood Education p. 158-159 NAP Assessing ECE pdf

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* Early Childhood Environmental Rating Scale-Revised (ECERS-R) developed by Harm & Cryder (1980, 1998
ECERS-R Materials Checklist PDF

Here is a 30 min intro to ECERS-R video https://vimeo.com/20883172

The 2016 Third Edition (ECERS-3) now has 35 items organized into 6 subscales https://www.ersi.info/ecers3_overview.html

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* Classroom Assessment Scoring System (CLASS)