It is that time of year. We are hunkered down in our classrooms sorting materials, cleaning, and perhaps pondering a new furniture arrangement. We love it when our colleagues and friends share their Prepared Environment journeys. We recently got a text from a preschool teacher, Jeannie, who cracked the code on her sea of tables and created new destination zones. She and her teaching assistant set up the room but they were not satisfied with the way it looked or felt.
As educators we know what it is like to be working on a project and get stuck. Sometimes it takes stepping away and returning to the challenge the next day to start fresh and new. Well, the next day Jeannie went into her classroom and had a Prepared Environment inspirational moment! She moved the tables and used the shelves to create smaller areas. Jeannie decided to send us some videos saying, “I have been trying to break up these tables for so long! I am so happy!”
We recommend using shelves to create destination zones where children can “land” as they make choices and engage with materials and projects. It is tempting to put all the tables in one place to keep children together but this can result in a very static environment and children need spaces to be in small groups, to concentrate, to work on different things. Jeannie put some shelves in the center of the room at different angles creating L shapes as well as smaller spaces. This left room to move and zones for play.
See the three big tables?
They don’t have to be close together and one creates an art area, another is co-located with puzzles, and another area is open for any type of activity. Notice shelves back to back and between the floor and the carpet.
A small table against the end of a shelf is the perfect spot for quieter, focused play. What are the zones in your classroom? How are you arranging furniture for a range of experiences?
Reach out if you need a Prepared Environment consult or more information on the 4 Intentions!
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