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Challenge
Initial Thoughts
Perspectives & Resources

What elements make up a well-designed early childhood environment?

What can teachers do to make the classroom environment more conducive to children’s learning and development?

  • Page 1: Early Childhood Environments
  • Page 2: Physical Environment
  • Page 3: Social Environment
  • Page 4: Temporal Environment
  • Page 5: Putting It All Together

Resources

  • Page 6: References & Additional Resources
  • Page 7: Credits
Wrap Up
Assessment
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Early Childhood Environments: Designing Effective Classrooms

Assessment

Take some time now to answer the following questions. Please note that the IRIS Center does not collect your Assessment responses. If this is a course assignment, you should turn them in to your professor using whatever method he or she requires. If you have trouble answering any of the questions, go back and review the Perspectives & Resources pages in this module.

  1. two children working with markers at tableList five reasons why well-designed classrooms are important for young children. 
  2. Identify and discuss at least three key aspects of each component of a well-designed early childhood environment: physical, social, and temporal.
  3. Describe three unique considerations for designing an environment for infants and young toddlers.
  4. Describe three strategies that teachers can use to make the physical environment more accessible to children with disabilities.
  5. Mr. Hilton is a new teacher in a classroom of infants, ages six months to twelve months. He is feeling a little overwhelmed with the “flow” of the day, especially when it comes to the arrival of infants and parents, feeding time, and floor time with the infants.
    1. Review the three problem areas listed in the Before column in the table below.
    2. List at least two changes that Mr. Hilton can make to address each of the issues described in the Before column.
    3. For each suggestion, indicate whether the change you recommend is to the physical (P), social (S), or temporal (T) aspect of the environment, or any combination of the three.
Mr. Hilton’s Classroom
Before After
Traffic jams occur at the doorway as Mr. Hilton stands waiting for parents and infants to arrive. Toys are on the bookshelf at the doorway and out of reach.

1.

2.

All infants are seated in infant seats, lined up side-by-side against the wall, and fed around noon according to the schedule. Parents provide formula or meal.

1.

2.

Few toys in the corner of the room during floor time. Mr. Hilton sits in a rocker nearby to supervise, communicating only when young children try to use the same toy.

1.

2.

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