Practical Strategies for Great Environments Infant and Toddler

Practical Strategies for Great Environments: Infant and Toddler Asha Warsame and Jessica Deang

Accessible Definition: Children can see, reach and use the materials, furnishings and/or equipment.

Challenges to Accessibility • Barriers – verbal or physical • Materials stored in containers with difficult to open lids

Room Arrangement Interest Center – A clearly defined play area for a particular kind of play. • Materials are organized by type and stored together • Furniture provided for the use of the materials • An appropriate amount of space

Engaged Definition: Children are interested and paying attention, which is different from just being quiet and well-behaved. Children should show interest by gazing intently (youngest children) or actively participating (older children). Facial expressions, movements or vocalization can indicate a child’s engagement in an activity or interaction.

Individualized Teaching Definition: Educational interaction between staff and each child, where the teacher provides information and enhances a child's learning and thinking. Individualized teaching involves responding to variation in the abilities, needs, and interests of children in the group. • Formal/Informal • Planned/Spontaneous

Activity: True/False True or False: Teaching is a formal and planned educational interactional between staff and children that only occur during whole group times. 1. Children are asked to count the days of the month using the calendar at whole group time. 2. The teacher read a book to two interested children during free play, asking questions and having conversations as they read. 3. During the daily scheduled art time, as part of a unit of study on the farm, children are asked to make sheep by gluing cotton balls onto sheep cut-outs while the teacher supervises to make sure the children use the materials correctly. 4. During the daily scheduled art time, as part of a unit of study on the farm, children are asked to draw a picture of their favorite farm animal while the teacher moves from child to child talking to them and asking questions while they work.

Working Lab In your table group, you are assigned to an interest center. When you get to the working lab, take notes on what materials are accessible, how are the centers organized, what images are on display, is there a variety of materials… Think about what you can do to enhance the environment. Think of an activity you can do using the materials that you see accessible. We will role play this activity.

Questions?

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