High Quality Learning Environments
Having a high-quality learning environment is extremely crucial for young children because it supports brain development, cognitive and language development, social-emotional and physical development. When teachers create warm and inviting environments they support developmental needs for 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 that are arranged with a variety of learning areas support engaging, play-based activities that focus on exploration, discovery, and creativity.
- Developmentally Appropriate: Activities and materials are 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 support different learning styles, encourages exploration and creativity, and supports diverse developmental needs. When children are a range of open-ended, stimulating materials designed for specific types of movement and play they thrive.
Large Group Area
Children need both large and small group areas in the classroom. The large group area is a space where children participate in group activities, such as planning time, story time, and music and movement.
Small Group Area
A small group area is designated for small group learning. Small group activities offer several important benefits including differentiated learning, closer observation, better support for children’s interests and deeper conversations.
Calming Corner
The Calming corner is a unique space that allow 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 in consistent places and shelves are tagged with child-friendly labels so children can put materials away themselves. This promotes independence by helping children understand where materials are, how to access and use those materials, and where to return materials when they are finished using them. 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.
Staff Highlight
Introducing Anna Thomas, our new lead teacher in the Blue Topaz classroom! Anna is a great addition to the CSCC family and we are looking forward to watching her succeed.
Anna graduated from Louisiana Tech University with a degree in human development and family sciences, concentrating in child development. During her time in school, she completed a practicum internship at the university’s lab preschool, where she cared for children and conducted assessments. This hands-on experience deepened Anna’s love for early childhood education and strengthened her passion for working with children.
Originally from Shreveport, Louisiana, Anna has always enjoyed working with kids. Growing up, she volunteered in her church’s Sunday school and enjoyed supporting children’s growth. Her favorite part of teaching is getting to know each child and understanding how their unique minds work. Anna is also excited to be part of a university campus setting, where she can support the children of parents who are helping college students in the community.
We’re fortunate to have Anna as part of our team and look forward to the wonderful experiences she’ll share with the children in the classroom.
