What should key elements of an ideal early childhood educational environment  be?

Early childhood education is a branch of education theory that relates to the teaching of children from birth up to the age of eight. Traditionally, this is up to the equivalent of third grade.  Wikipedia

  • The learning environment is an important and powerful teaching tool.
  • The environment communicates to children what is expected of them.
  • Directs and supports pedagogy
  • Learning environment is set up with the knowledge of how children learn and develop.
  • It can positively support  learning.
  • Independence and joy of learning should be kept in mind while creating learning environment.
  • Learning environment also communicates a sense of intuitionalism
  • Learning environment can be a powerful tool for inclusion or exclusion

Key features of an ECE Environment:

  • Learning corners
  • Cleanliness
  • Proper arrangement of lights
  • Ventilation
  • Seating arrangement
  • Learning material
  • Placement and accessibility of material to children.
  • Space
  • Acoustics

How the learning corners helps:

  • Learning corners are ideal work spaces for children.
  • It encourage children to learn in ways that are natural to them.
  • It provides for a wide range of abilities and interests.
  • Provides opportunities for group and individual activities
  • Working in different corners helps children in developing children’s ability to:
    • Take initiatives
    • Complete self-chosen tasks
    • Question
    • Experiment and discover
    • Make sense of the world around them
    • Work independently, share and co-operate with others.
    • Develop social skills

Learning Corners

1.Language Corner
2.Library Corner
3.Art Corner
4.Math Corner
5.Science corner
6.Home Corner
Learning Corners Management
  • Materials in learning centers are selected and arranged to foster involvement, independence, decision making, and responsibility.
  • children are given extended opportunities
  • All learning centers have a broad range of activities to accommodate child’s interest and level of development.
  • Always model new activities.
  • Define center boundaries with low shelves, carpet, or tape.
  • Organize materials on low shelves close to their point of use so the materials in each center are always accessible to the students.
  • Organize small items in labeled tubs or baskets for easy clean-up.
  • Place pictures, words, or outlines of objects on shelves to assist students in putting materials away when an activity is completed.

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