ECE 566 Learning Environments
Course Description: This 3-hour graduate course provides knowledge and practice in designing developmentally appropriate learning environments and instructional design with the use of technological and other tools/materials to advance learning for children in Prekindergarten through the primary grades. Students will investigate the relationship between the classroom environment and instructional planning for young children.Online class: Meet in D2L BrightSpace on http://myleoonline.tamuc.edu/.
Required Textbook:
Kostelnik, M., Soderman, A. K., Whiren, A. P., & Rupiper, M. (2019). Developmentally appropriate curriculum: Best practices in early childhood education (7th ed.). London, UK: Pearson. (previous editions are welcome, digital subscription are okay, too) ISBN-13: 978-0-13-352166-5
Resource Links:
Unit 1: Inspiring Spaces
http://faculty.tamuc.edu/jthompson/environment
Duncan 2011 Breaking the Code .PDF
Developmentally Appropriate Practice
NAEYC (2020). Developmentally Appropriate Practice. NAEYC. www.naeyc.org/dap
Stanković-Ramirez, Z., & Thompson, J. (2022, Spring).1 A new view of Developmentally Appropriate Practice: What early childhood educators know about waves, individuals, and equity. TEPSA Leader: Texas Elementary Principals and Supervisors Association 35(2), 1-7.
Thompson, J., & Stanković-Ramirez. (2021, October). What early childhood educators know about developmentally appropriate practice. Phi Delta Kappan, 103(2), pp. 20-23. https://kappanonline.org/what-early-childhood-educators-know-about-developmentally-appropriate-practice/.
Power to the Profession
http://faculty.tamuc.edu/jthompson/profession
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Unit 2: Evaluating & Designing
Evaluating Environments
Kostelnik, p. 147
T-TESS, Domain 3: Learning Environment www.teachfortexas.org
National Assessment Panel
Early Childhood Environmental Rating Scale (ECERS) www.ersi.info/ecers3.html
Classroom Assessment Scoring System (CLASS) https://education.virginia.edu/classroom-assessment-scoring-system
Designing Environments
Companies in the designing classrooms business
Community Playthings https://www.communityplaythings.com/Inspiration/sample-classrooms
www.communityplaythings.com/resources/articles/RoomPlanning/index.html.
In particular, review this video of outdoor play: www.communityplaythings.com/resources/videos/outlast-play
Constructive Play
Environments, Inc.
Kaplanco.com
Lakeshore Learning https://www.lakeshorelearning.com/services/complete-classrooms
Scholastic.com http://teacher.scholastic.com/
Tools for Designing Environments
Paper and pencil
Classroom Architect
Classroom Design Programs
Ideas for organizing class activities
Class Jobs
Learning Centers
Literacy Centers
Morning Greeting Routines
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Unit 3: Domains of Learning - checking for learner effectives across all domains of development
P.L.A.C.E.S.
Stanković-Ramirez, Z. & Thompson, J. (2018). Rethinking developmental domains to improve classroom observations. Texas Child Care Quarterly, 42(2), 20-27. Available online https://www.childcarequarterly.com/pdf/fall18_domains.pdf.
http://faculty.tamuc.edu/jthompson/places
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Unit 4: Integrating across disciplines
Inquiry-based learning
Integrating diverse literature everywhere
Classroom Culture Considerations
Boys in School
http://faculty.tamuc.edu/jthompson/boys
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Gallery Walk
http://faculty.tamuc.edu/jthompson/gw/
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Montessori
I am a Montessorian, certified by American Montessori Society www.amshq.org, a trainer with Dallas Montessori Teacher Education Program www.dallasmontessori.com, and a Montessori parent and grandparent www.casadepazmontessori.com, and www.stfrancisirving.org, and www.efwma.org. For more info on Montessori Education, start here: http://faculty.tamuc.edu/jthompson/montessori
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Observation of children learning
http://faculty.tamuc.edu/jthompson/observation
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Learning Environments
Finally, this work in this class is mirrored over here at
