What is most important in a learning environment for pre-schoolers? Whats helpful and what is not?

Question

And how can classroom design be more conducive to learning for the young child?

Answer 1

Vivienne has some good advice.  To add to it, it is helpful to make sure that materials kids are allowed to use are easily accessible to them (like not on a high shelf!).   Lots of labeling in the environment helps with pre-literacy skills.  For example, it's good to see bins of art supplies labeled with a picture and the word that describes what's inside so kids can independently take them out and clean up after themselves.

It's also important to think about the layout of the learning environment...you don't want to have a noise area like blocks right next to a quiet area like reading.  You don't want to have long skinny stretches of open space that tempt kiddos to run and be unsafe indoors.

A good learning environment has materials that promote both gross motor (throwing, rolling, catching, running, climbing) and fine motor (drawing, stacking, squeezing) skills.

If you ask me, what's NOT helpful is fancy schmancy bulletin boards bought from the teacher store.  The decorations on the walls are much more meaningful if the kids help make them and/or are involved with putting them up so they know what's there and why.

Answer 2

Without doubt the MOST important element in the early learning environment is the teachers and their ability to build strong and reciprocal relationships with young children that encourage them to explore from a safe base of belonging to an encouraging community.

With regard  to design, open space is important as is consideration of acoustic, light and heating levels - preschools can be very noisy places.Consideration should be given to the outdoors as a classroom as well as the indoors and everything should have a place as children under the age of five are in a sensitive period for order - can make tidying bedrooms a lot easier in later life if they are given basic skills at this age!

Answer 3

Most important from what I've observed is lots of stuff to explore - textures (i.e. sand table, shaving cream), colors (art supplies), science (nature things, water&oil bottle, little science gadgets, magnets).  Building areas are an important basic.  Some free time to drift and explore what they want is important.  Some time and space for music, dancing and gross motor skills (exercise, sports) is also very important.

Exposure to letters & numbers, on the walls with pictures is good - lots of classrooms have started labelling EVERYTHING (I'm not sure it does much good, but it might increase awareness, and it's unlikely to hurt).  

Not so important - excessive neatness & organization... Don't get me wrong, it needs to be safe, and you must be able to find things, but like babies, pre-schoolers seem to need some chaos to stimulate their curiosity!

Answer 4

colors

numbers

alphabet

Answer 5

I believe that having structure and a reward sysytem would be helpful.

I saw a preschool class once that had gym pads all over the floors and chalk boards all around the room, my kids (who are now 18 and 21) loved it.