High Quality Learning Environments
A high-quality learning environment is crucial for young children because it supports brain development, cognitive and language development, and social-emotional and physical development. Teachers who create warm and inviting environments support the developmental needs of young learners. There are several key components to having a supportive classroom environment.
• Safe and Nurturing: A physically and emotionally safe environment where children feel loved, respected, and valued.
• Engaging and Play-Based: Learning through play is central. Classrooms arranged with various learning areas support engaging, play-based activities that focus on exploration, discovery, and creativity.
• Developmentally Appropriate: Activities and materials tailored to the children’s ages and developmental stages.
• Qualified Educators: Highly trained and caring educators who understand child development and provide individualized support.
• Strong Family Involvement: Partnerships between families and educators are essential for supporting children’s learning and development.
Providing children with a variety of learning environments supports different learning styles, encourages exploration and creativity, and supports diverse developmental needs. When children are given a range of open-ended, stimulating materials designed for specific types of movement and play, they thrive.
CSCC Director
Large Group Areas
Children need both large and small group areas in the classroom. The large group area is where children participate in group activities, such as planning time, storytime, and music and movement.
Tasty Tuesday
Why is tasting diverse foods crucial for child development?
Tasting diverse foods is crucial for child development as it fosters healthy eating habits, strengthens sensory skills, and expands palates, ultimately leading to a more varied and nutritious diet that supports overall well-being. Giving children foods with a variety of different tastes and textures can help them: Learn to accept and like a variety of foods.
On Tasty Tuesday, children and teachers will explore tasty treats with their classmates. Parents will have an opportunity to taste something on Tuesday as well.
Calming Corner
The Calming Corner is a unique space that allows children to take a break, decompress, and regulate their emotions when feeling overwhelmed or upset. It provides them an opportunity to regain composure before returning to regular activities. These spaces may also be known as a safe place or thinking area.
Labeling in a Quality Center
Materials are arranged consistently, and shelves are tagged with child-friendly labels so children can put the materials away themselves. This promotes independence by helping children understand where materials are, how to access and use them, and where to return them when they are finished. Some classrooms may have labeling in more than one language.
Learning is focused on eight content areas
• Approaches to learning
• Social and Emotional Development
• Physical Development and Health
• Communication, Language and Literacy.
• Mathematics
• Creative Arts
• Science and Technology
• Social Studies
Stay tuned to future newsletters as we take a deep dive into each HighScope content area.