A Pre-Kindergarten classroom was observed using the Early Childhood Environment Rating scale scoresheet. The purpose of this paper will discuss one section, space and furnishings. The score sheet was used to observe the children and the classroom. Eight areas where observed, which included indoor space, furnishing, and outdoor gross motor. Each area had a different score, although certain areas scored an excellent seven. Overall the classroom had a great score. On Friday, February 5, 2016 I observed Ms. L pre-k classroom. I arrived in her classroom at 8:45 am and stayed until 9:45am. Ms. L was the only teacher present in her classroom, at the moment she doesn’t have an assistant teacher. At the beginning of the observation ten students were present. By 9:30am Ms. L had all twelve of her students present. The state ratio for a pre-k classroom is one to twelve, meaning one teacher can be with twelve students. However, if another teacher was present in the classroom they could have up to twenty-four students. This ratio includes four and five year olds. All the children in Ms. L class are four years old, currently none of her students will turn five until the month of April. Three out of twelve students in the classroom have either a food allergy or family food preference. I entered the classroom during breakfast time the students were having wheat pancakes, but due to one child allergies he had to eat cornflakes. This was the perfect time to finish interviewing Ms. L,
The soft furnishing in the cozy area must allow a child to completely escape the hardness of the typical early childhood classroom. A cozy area should be away from active play equipment and have protection from active children through its placement in the room. If active play is present, staff must redirect the active play to another area.
We know that a rich and varied environment supports children’s learning and development. It gives them the confidence to explore and learn in secure and safe, yet challenging, indoor and outdoor spaces.
Using the ITERS-R Materials Checklist I was also able to evaluate the equipment and materials of the classroom. Essa (2014) defines the equipment as the large furniture that is more representative of a long-term investment in the classroom and defines the materials as the smaller materials that are used and replaced more often. While observing a lot of the equipment was wooden. The shelfs, tables, and chairs in the classroom were wooden. The equipment was hard and looked durable as well as appropriate for the size of the children. The table where the infants eat and the chair they use were all small enough to where the children fit in comfortably and wouldn’t fall off. The shelfs were also tall enough to where the children could reach things
Environment has immediate effect on the quality of the children’s learning and development therefore it should be comfortable, interesting, attractive and appropriate for child or children who use it. There are a number of important factors to be considered while planning for safe indoor and outdoor environment but the most important ‘Every Child Matters’ i.e. everyone is an individual and may have particular needs. These different needs depend on their age and abilities. A suitable environment for a baby will be different from suitable environment for a three or four year old although some features will
It is important that an environment where children are going to be is a safe and friendly environment, and consists of everything that a child needs to be able grow and develop to the best of their ability. This includes challenging exercises and things that are able learn at their own pace. Whichever age group you a person is working with, it is important to ensure that the planning is done according to each child’s individual needs to ensure that that the development of each child is met. This is vital as every child is different and therefore activities that are put out should be able to be adapted so that every child feels as if they are able to have a go at doing it. A positive environment also includes the way that a room looks and if
According to our textbook Student teaching, “A quality program is one that exceeds rather than meets minimum standards for licensure.” To help us determine if a preschool classroom/program provides quality and to help us understand what quality means we were asked to evaluate and compare two preschool classrooms using the Early Childhood Environment Rating Scale. The classrooms I chose to evaluate and compare using the ECERS evaluation tool were the 4year old classroom at Naples Christian Academy and the 4 year old classroom at The Learning Center. Below is my comparison of both classrooms using the ECERS evaluation tool.
After completing the Early Childhood Environment Rating Scale, I see that there is much need for improvement in certain sections. On the other hand, many areas need no improvement at all. For example, the section on toileting and diapering needs no improvement along with staff use of books with children and encouraging children’s use of books. All three of these areas scored a rating of seven, meaning that all standards were met during my observation and there is no need for any type of improvement. Although there are many areas that scored a seven, there are also many areas that scored a one or a two, meaning there is much room for improvement. For example, encouraging children to use language scored a one, which shows us it needs much enhancement. Along with this, nature and science scored a two and discipline scored a one. Both of these areas also need much development and improvement.
In today's society, early childhood education programs have become an almost expected first step in every child's life. Studies have shown that when children attend they children who attend a preschool program are exposed to numbers, letter, and shapes on a daily basis. They also begin to learn many life skills, like how to socialize, share and separate from their parents. These first steps of learning are so important that now forty states in the U.S. now offer state funded pre-k programs (Kanter, 2016). With some many different preschools and early childhood programs, how do parents know if the programs are being held to a certain standard? The Early Childhood Environment Rating Scale (ECERS) is one comprehensive assessment tool available. Using this tool while quietly observing a preschool classroom, will help to define areas of strength as well as areas needing to be strengthened. The scale has thirty five different areas that are divided into six subscales, that will be observed. Each question is yes or no answer to a specific question and example.
outside going to play yard but it can not count as ventilation since there was no locking screen or safety half gate/door to keep the children from leaving the door unattended.
This document is designed for a Childcare and Education Student to explain how Oak Tree Nursery Class provides a positive environment for its children.
Unhealthy environments pose significant issues amongst Early Childhood programs. Teachers, directors, and parents need clear understandings concerning their role in solving this problem. According to Squibb and Yardley (1999) the director has the ultimate responsibility to make certain that everyone in their facility is healthy. They can accomplish this task by offering verbal and written information to teachers and parents concerning healthy standards. After ensuring that rules are in place, directors can assume a practical approach such as, talking with parents about their emergency plans for childcare. For example, they can use the child enrollment sheet to discuss emergency contacts in case of sickness or other emergencies. In
Well planned space is arranged to meet the needs of the children in the classroom. The Core of DAP suggests the teacher should consider what is known about child development, learning, individual children, and social/cultural contexts when designing a classroom. Many pieces of the environment can influence how a child feels in the classroom. The text Planning and Administering Early Childhood Programs states that “aspects such as color of the walls, type of
Educators hold the important role of supporting and facilitating each child’s development, one method of facilitating for the child is by recognizing and providing an optimal learning environment. An optimal learning environment is a safe environment specifically designed to facilitate a child’s learning and developmental needs. Educators need to provide time and opportunity for children to respond and experience the world creatively, it also needs to offer exposure to a variety of experience, to be secure and offer stimulating experiences so children can take risks and investigate the world around them safely. Olds (2001) suggests that children need to feel comfortable in their environment for them to explore. Educators need to be vigilant in making sure that each individuals needs are met so the child feels safe and comfortable in the learning environment. Creating an optimal learning environment means educators need to consider the aspects that create this environment. Harris Helm suggests that the overall effectiveness of an early childhood program is dependant on quality of staff, suitable environment, consistent schedules and parent involvement.
Classrooms environments are very important at the time of learning. According to our textbook, the environment is viewed as an established behavioral place that forms how we act and behave (Vukelich & Christie, 2016). The environment in the classroom I visited was adequate for learning because it has all the things a preschool classroom has to have according to the textbook. The classroom has a bulleting board, a dramatic play center, a writing center, tables for manipulative and games, whole group meeting area, a computer area and an art area. There was also on a wall a picture of every single child with his and her names. My visit was from 10:30 to 12:30. When I first arrived, children were in a transition from one activity to another. The next activity was to watch an ABC phonics video. All the children knew what they have to do. They had to sit nicely and quiet on the floor. Every single child knew how to sit. They crossed their legs and put their hands in their laps. When the teacher saw that all the children were sitting properly, she assumed that they were ready to learn. During this activity I observed that Matthew and Jose were not engaged with this activity because they were looking to other children instead to look to the screen. For the next activity the children had to take a tablet from a cabinet. I was surprise because every single child knew the number of the tablet they have to take. Later I noticed that it was because in the classroom every child has a
During my observations in the different classrooms at “The childcare Center”, I learned about the proper environment, the fundamentals of the teachers lesson plans, their health and safety regulations, their approach to guidance and discipline, and overall quality childcare. The center has eight different levels of age groups; each of them has their own curriculum based on their age and developmental needs. This curriculum changes and has a new theme each month that helps the lead teachers to be able to start their lesson plans each week. From infants all the way to pre-K the lesson plans include fine motor, gross motor, art and sensory, math and manipulatives, music and movement, language including both signing and Spanish.