Based on the reading “visual and material environment from Anti-Bias Education for Young Children and Ourselves by Louise Derman-Sparks and Julie Olsen Edwards, I have come created a vision of my family child care center. In my family child care center I would have books, magazines, toys, furniture, poster and various art pieces that will engage young children and their families. Books would include age appropriate books such as big books for 2 through 4 years old as well as having different books for the other ages that are fiction, nonfiction, and nursery rhymes just to name a few. Magazines would be books related to science such as the national geographic, and any other books that goes along with their subjects. Toys would consist of dolls, play dough, trains, blocks, etc. Furniture would be at the level for students. For example, for toddlers it would be small chairs and tables. Poster and various art pieces would tie into the different cultures in the classroom. I love green plants, it enhances the room. Besides a welcome sign, guidelines, rules, expectations and a huge smile on my face, is all the indication I need to assure parents they are in the right place.
As Adriana Castillo mentioned, I would also like to create a special place for students to bring something from home that is sentimental to demonstrate that you are welcomed and loved.
Tree of love
This was a gift given to me on my last day of student teaching in Leesburg, Ga by the students and my master teacher in May of 2010. I treasure this gift because it reminds me of the passion and the ambition they felt for me.
Tanya, your room sounds great! Love all the green plants : )
ReplyDeleteI think child-friendly science magazines are a nice addition to the room. Science sometimes gets overlooked in family day care, I have found.
LTanya,
ReplyDeleteOf course-rules and expectations! Yet something else I forgot to mention. In my classroom we follow the PBIS (Positive Behavior Interventions and Support) and setting up an expectation chart was required by our principal. I took pictures of the children doing what was expected and posted them on our board under our three rules-Be Responsible, Be Respectful, and Be Safe. We will refer to it from time to time to keep all those expectations fresh in their minds.
In fact I use tons of pictures/visuals for my students. It all started with an autistic child needing them, and now I just use them for all my students! They really work great!! I could see the use of pictures to help the in-home child care provider teach children expectations and to help children understand vocabulary that might be confusing to some. Besides pictures are user friendly for all! Pictures are a universal language and are even appropriate for children of all ability levels!