What would I like my future classroom to look like?
Part of my journey of becoming an ECE teacher is brainstorming what my future classroom will look like. Therefore I have started a collection of ideas and images of how I would like to design my future classroom. Here I will reflect on some of the central ideas found in a Reggio Emilia inspired classroom. As an emerging Early Childhood Educator, I know that the classroom and physical learning spaces are central to a child's engagement, learning, emotional well-being and physical development.
Essentially, the environment and classroom is not just where the learning takes place, but is also symbolic of how the learning takes shape: The classroom really is the third teacher.
"We place enormous value on the role of the environment as a motivating and animating force in creating spaces for relations, options, and emotional and cognitive situations that produce a sense of well-being and security." --Loris Malaguzzi, Reggio Emilia Italy.
___________________________________________________________________________
When I design and decorate my future classroom, I will strive to create a space which is visually welcoming, textually inviting and reflective of the individuality of my students. Having my classroom encompass all three of these characteristics is central to my teaching philosophy.
For myself, this includes letting in as much natural light as possible, creating structured learning centers underneath windows and/or skylights, having an assortment of plants for both aesthetic appeal and also for the children to touch and learn from, using neutral, warm and earth-based colors and hues for the walls and furniture, having structured and unstructured spaces and places little ones to engage in sensory exploration and learning, and finally introducing a rich variety of colors that reflect the diversity of learning in the class. You can see in the photo below, the bright areas of color comes from both a carpeted/soft place on the floor, but also artwork and learning projects created by the children. It is visually very welcoming, with spaces to drift towards. It is not cluttered with furniture nor are the walls covered in posters and rule charts. It is minimally decorated, however there is a focus on using the artwork and learning projects of the children on the walls. There is also a great deal of natural light, natural based colors and hues, and structured and unstructured learning spaces.
Essentially, the environment and classroom is not just where the learning takes place, but is also symbolic of how the learning takes shape: The classroom really is the third teacher.
"We place enormous value on the role of the environment as a motivating and animating force in creating spaces for relations, options, and emotional and cognitive situations that produce a sense of well-being and security." --Loris Malaguzzi, Reggio Emilia Italy.
___________________________________________________________________________
When I design and decorate my future classroom, I will strive to create a space which is visually welcoming, textually inviting and reflective of the individuality of my students. Having my classroom encompass all three of these characteristics is central to my teaching philosophy.
For myself, this includes letting in as much natural light as possible, creating structured learning centers underneath windows and/or skylights, having an assortment of plants for both aesthetic appeal and also for the children to touch and learn from, using neutral, warm and earth-based colors and hues for the walls and furniture, having structured and unstructured spaces and places little ones to engage in sensory exploration and learning, and finally introducing a rich variety of colors that reflect the diversity of learning in the class. You can see in the photo below, the bright areas of color comes from both a carpeted/soft place on the floor, but also artwork and learning projects created by the children. It is visually very welcoming, with spaces to drift towards. It is not cluttered with furniture nor are the walls covered in posters and rule charts. It is minimally decorated, however there is a focus on using the artwork and learning projects of the children on the walls. There is also a great deal of natural light, natural based colors and hues, and structured and unstructured learning spaces.
Reggio classrooms are designed to be a beautiful and visually appealing 'third teacher'. If the environment is set up in the right way and with the right materials, children will be actively engaged and respectful with the materials. Actively engaged children is learning through play and exploration, which is what I strive to create in my classroom. When children are engaged in activities, teachers have more time to positively interact with the children, observe the learning in action, write down language, and taking pictures for assessment and documentation. This classroom has a soft place for students to relax and read books. It is decorated with soft and flowing fabric, softer lighting (strand lights) and neutral/warm colors. If I feel calm, centered, invited and relaxed in my classroom space, chances are my students also will.
There are many different Reggio Emilia inspired characteristics in this classroom, the most noticeable being the use of soft and natural light, plants, and flowing fabrics. The desks are again a natural wood (not bright red or blue), and materials are beautifully displayed and easily accessible. This classroom feels like a welcoming 'home' space!
This image represents the way natural textures, neutral to warm arth colours and non-plastic textures create a clam and natural place for children to learn and explore in. Here you can see various natural materials being used for both decoration and places for exploration. There isa bamboo chained curtain which provides a subtle but rich decorative background, wooden blocks for sensory and spatial development, wooden toys, a globe, and various other toys, all within a child's reach.
Reggio classrooms are often incredibly mindful and aware of how the little ones interact and manipulate with their environment. In this photo, you can see that everyday learning materials (markers, glue, scissors, pencils, etc...) are easily within reach for the children and displayed in a beautiful and appealing way (wicker baskets). The materials are also clean, inviting, bright, organized (indicator labels) and well maintained.
This classroom incorporates the idea of warm, neutral and earth-based colours and textures quite well. There are natural looking work spaces and a calm coloured floor. Once again you see the children's artwork and learning projects on the wall providing splashes of rich color. This classroom also has plants in it, and it looks like there is lots of natural light illuminating the room
This learning environment incorporates a great deal of natural light, plants and warm colors. The artwork on the walls is vibrant, yet not overwhelming. It also has materials ready for the children to use, with thought given to the decorative and inviting appeal (there are placemats on the table, a bowl which appears to have an assortment of rich textured objects to explore, (check out the magnify- glasses!)
This classroom actually has a physical 'living room' area within it's classroom which includes a couch, a chair, shelving, a small carpet and a bookcase for the children to use. In addition to the soft light and plants, this reading and living space is actually located near the entrance of the classroom in order to establish an immediate sense of welcomeness to the classroom in anyone who enters the classroom!