ASSIGNMENT | The impact of the classroom environment/arrangement on children’s behavior.

Watch these three, brief videos from the Eastern Connecticut State Center for Early Childhood Education:

CECE Video

After viewing the three segments, answer the following questions (be sure to answer fully in paragraph form):

Question 1: Think about the centers in your classroom. Which are quiet centers and which are loud centers? Are the quiet centers placed together and away from the louder centers? What centers might need to be moved?
Question 2: What are the three main ideas for arranging a classroom that support children’s positive behaviors? What kinds of changes might you want to implement in your classroom to meet all three of these ideas? What would your ideal classroom look like if it incorporated these ideas?
Question 3: What space do you currently have for children to get away from classroom activity? Where could you add a getaway space? What additional materials would you need to add a getaway space?
Question 4: Think about a particular behavioral issue that you’re facing right now in your classroom. What changes could you make to the physical classroom environment that would improve the situation?

SAMPLE SOLUTION

The Impact of the Classroom Environment/Arrangement on Children’s Behavior

            The classroom has both loud and quiet centers. These centers are set up depending on two objectives: maximizing the space and students’ learning. In this case, the loud classroom centers are art, blocks, dramatic play, motor play, and sensory/water table centers where kids can express their emotions and ideas. The quiet centers comprise the book, computers, table games and puzzles, math, and science centers (ECSU). Accordingly, the quiet centers are placed or grouped, and away from the louder centers. The centers that might be moved the table games and puzzles centers.            The three primary ideas for arranging the classroom to boost the positive behaviors of children are clearly defined learning centers, loud centers apart from quiet centers, and having wide pathways (ECSU). To meet these ideas, I have to make some changes, which include moving loud centers further away from the quiet centers and creating…