consider in setting up a learning center from the "On Your Knees" checklist:

 physical layout for learning should be flexible and easily modified to ensure safety and
accessibility. Separate busy, noisy, and messy area from quiet area.
 Materials should be visible, accessible, and attractively organized in child-size bins that
children can tidy up independently.
 Ample supply of open-ended “loose parts” to help develop the natural inquiry and exploration
process. Materials should be changed regularly to give children opportunities to play and
explore new ideas.
 Use textures, shapes, and elements from nature to invite discovery. Bring in the natural
world into the classroom whenever possible throughout the year.
 Children’s work represented throughout the classroom so children feels that it is a safe
space that belongs to them.
 Visual images representing diversity should be present around the classroom to help
children develop tolerance and inclusiveness.

References
The following resource(s) were used this week:
Curtis, D. & Carter, M. (2011). Reflecting Children's Lives. St. Paul, MN: Redleaf Press
A “learning centre” is a well-defined area of the playroom or playground with specified boundaries. In
the learning centre, there is specific equipment and materials for promoting children’s learning and
developing particular skills or concepts. A learning centre is also known as an “activity” or “interest”
centre.
The location where specific activities will take place will be determined in part by the layout of the
classroom and the accessibility of furnishings, built-ins and outlets. When you are organizing the
physical space, take into consideration the skills that are to be developed within each area. Then
choose appropriate activities and equipment to meet the developmental needs of the children in your
group.
Once your classroom environment or ‘space’ is set up, assess how well the room arrangement is
working by asking yourself, “Does it convey the messages I intend?”
Positive messages for an early childhood environment include:
 “This is a good place to be.”
 “You belong here.”
 “This is a place you can trust.”
 “There are places where you can be by yourself when you want to.”
 “You can do many things on your own here.”
 “This is a safe place to explore and try out your ideas.”

Take the time to look at the 3 sample floor plans included in week 3 folder to see how to create a
developmentally appropriate learning space for children. 
Reflecting Children’s Lives
pp. 34 - 38, & 253 – 254

There are a number of ways families and educators can create an environment for
children that is conducive to learning.
Create order and remove clutter. Children need to feel that there is orderliness in their
environment so that they can learn. A room that is free of clutter will help them open
their minds to new things. A cluttered or unorganized room can be distracting and impede
learning. Furniture should be arranged in such a way that there is little traffic throughout
the day and so that it appears organized.

Ensure comfort. This includes temperature of the room, comfortable furniture and aesthetic
appeal. Making sure that rooms are not too hot or cold, lighted appropriately and decorated with
items that may be appealing to children can help promote a positive learning experience.

Ensure health and safety. Health and safety should be basic concerns for those creating a learning
environment for children. This means childproofing rooms, removing health hazards and
environmental allergens as much as possible. Children who do not feel safe have more difficulty
learning. Bullying should not be tolerated; children should feel safe and valued at all times.

Include children in the creation of their environment. This includes having their artwork or
accomplishments posted on walls. This will help make their environment welcoming and
comfortable.

Provide support, praise and feedback. It is important for parents and educators to provide
positive reinforcement and feedback to their young learners. This gives children motivation to
learn, make mistakes and accomplish new things.

Provide discipline when necessary. Establishing rules for conduct during learning and playtime
activities is important. These rules should also outline consequences. Behaviors that disrupt
learning can disrupt the entire classroom.

A positive environment encourages the holistic development of all children. The

physical environment affects how children learn and develop. The space available
inside and outside the building affects how resources are set up. It is important that
the environment is welcoming, clean, safe and stimulating.

In order to have a suitable environment, consideration needs to be given to space

and equipment, hygiene and safety, as well as staffing levels, and the ability and
knowledge of the staff to support all children in every aspect of their development.
childcare workers need to ensure a wide range of activities by arranging
opportunities and equipment for playing and learning that will help a child fully
develop. This may be indoors or outdoors, but should always be safe, secure, clean
and comfortable.

Children learn through achieving, thinking, listening, doing, making mistakes, using
their senses, experiencing, repeating and having fun. Therefore an environment
needs to be created that is designed for play and allows skills to be developed.
Resources and activities need to be provided that are relevant to children's
interests and experiences, and build on what they already know. By observing
children it is possible to learn about their strengths and weaknesses, likes and
dislikes, which will enable you to provide activities and resources to meet their
individual needs.

It is important that children are given opportunities to be independent and make

choices in order to support the emotional and social development of children.
Children should be made aware of all activities and experiences available during
the session, for example, through discussion during circle time before starting the
activities.

In order to support a positive environment, planning is required for continuous

provision, which is what is provided for children in terms of learning opportunities
all the time. Areas that are a part of continuous provision include:

 sand area
 water area
 dough/malleable
 quiet/reading area
 construction area
 mud kitchen
 art/craft area
 investigation/discovery area
 small world area.

Displays support and a positive environment by providing information to children,

parents/carers and visitors about the setting's values. Displays are a good way to exhibit
children's work, for example art and craft work, but it is important that the work being
displayed is the children's work and not that of the childcare workers. Displaying children's
work encourages self-esteem by showing appreciation of their work.

This includes temperature of the room, comfortable furniture and aesthetic appeal. Making
sure that rooms are not too hot or cold, lighted appropriately and decorated with items that
may be appealing to children can help promote a positive learning experience.

A positive learning environment not only consists of the physical setting, but it also
encompasses how the child feels or responds to the setting.
as well as staffing levels, and the ability and knowledge of the staff to support all children in
every aspect of their development. childcare workers need to ensure a wide range of activities
by arranging opportunities and equipment for playing and learning that will help a child fully
develop.

When students’ cultural backgrounds aren’t thoughtfully considered, classrooms suffer from issues like
language barriers, systemic discrimination, and lack of representation.

Culturally responsive teaching helps bridge those gaps by engaging students from underrepresented
cultures (which can be informed by everything from race and ethnicity to religion and ability) in the
learning process in ways that are meaningful and relevant to them.

The benefits of culturally responsive teaching are undeniable. Not only does it improve student success
rates across the board but it also fosters positive relationships between families and school communities
and promotes inclusion in schools and education systems.

In fact, children are usually even more aware and sensitive to their surroundings. This is especially so for
students with specific sensory needs.  This is because their physical environment can calm them and make
them feel safe and open to learning. 
A positive learning environment is not just about providing a physical
setting. It is also about how a child feels and interacts with it.
It is important to consider space and equipment, hygiene and safety when creating a
positive environment.
Educators need to ensure children have a variety of activities by arranging a wide
range of opportunities and equipment for play and learning such as a reading corner, an
art and craft space, a kitchen area, outside a play/discovery area, a nd a sandbox
that allow children to develop to their full potential. In addition, display children's work, is
a great way promote a positive environment. It
is easier for them to learn if they have a room that is organized and free of clutter.
Keeping the classroom at an appropriate temperature, providing comfortable furniture
and decorating the room with appealing items can enhance learning. Colour, space, light,
storage options, and organization should be natural.

For me, by learning about this checklist, I can be able

to realize how much our environment affects us. The fact is that children are even
more aware and sensitive to their environment , especially students
with special sensory requirements because Children feel safe in calm
environment, which makes them more open and ready to learn.

.