Classroom Map and Processes
Classroom Map and Processes
Classroom Description: ! des"#ned my classroom "n a $ay that "s appropr"ate %or my comm&n"ty and the"r %am"l"es and &t"l"'ed the space %or health, sa%ety, learn"n#, and ma"nta"n"n# pos"t"ve relat"onsh"ps( ! des"#ned my classroom $"th my st&dents "n m"nd, o% co&rse, b&t ! also $anted "t to be a place $here %am"l"es co&ld %eel $elcome and have access to me or any other "n%ormat"on they m"#ht need( ! $anted them to %eel as com%ortable "n the learn"n# env"ronment as the st&dents are( )o to accompl"sh th"s ! %"rst p&t cha"rs %or seat"n# o&ts"de o% the classroom ne*t to the table $here the s"#n+"n boo, "s( The cha"rs ! chose are s"m"lar to those that m"#ht be %o&nd "n a home- they are com%ortable and rela*"n#( Th"s "s a place $here %am"l"es can meet $"th sta%% or $"th each other( .lso "n th"s area there "s a b&llet"n board that $"ll post events that are happen"n# aro&nd the school and comm&n"ty that are %am"ly appropr"ate( There $"ll also be "n%ormat"on abo&t the school, &pcom"n# deadl"nes, etc- anyth"n# the parents m"#ht need to ,no$( .lso "n the space ! $o&ld "ncl&de a doc&ment drop bo* $"th a slot %or each %am"ly( Th"s "s the space $here teacher and parents can comm&n"cate( They can leave notes %or me and ! can p&t "mportant "n%ormat"on "n there, so ! $"ll be s&re "t $"ll reach the parents( !ns"de the classroom, ! have also "ncl&ded a teacher $or, area that "s part"t"oned by short $alls( Th"s $ay ! $"ll have a place to ,eep my %"les, as $ell as a place to meet $"th parents that %eels more pr"vate than o&t "n the halls( /hen creat"n# th"s space, ! made s&re that the $alls $ere
tall eno&#h to create a sense o% pr"vacy and sec&r"ty %or ad<s, b&t also short eno&#h that ! can see over them and st"ll mon"tor the classroom "% needed( !t $as "mportant to me to have a space l",e th"s, so my th"n#s don0t "nter%ere $"th the %lo$ and stora#e o% the rest o% the classroom( !t "s "mportant to ,eep the env"ronment loo,"n# neat and or#an"'ed, so ! $anted to have my o$n space &st "n case th"s area #ot cl&ttered, beca&se $e all ,no$ that th"s "s bo&nd to happen event&ally( 1&ts"de o% the teacher $or, space alon# the other s"de o% the door, yo& $"ll see a c&bby %or each ch"ld, labeled $"th the"r name and photo#raph, alon# the $all ne*t to the door( Th"s "s a place %or each ch"ld to store the"r ac,ets, bac,pac,s, $ater bottles, l&nches or snac,s "% they don0t need re%r"#erat"on, or $hatever else the ch"ld $ants to have stored "n th"s area( ! placed them alon# the door lead"n# to the hall$ay to prov"de %or smooth trans"t"ons $hen e*"t"n# the classroom( P&tt"n# the c&bb"es here $"ll help des"#nated the area "n $h"ch they $"ll l"ne &p, and ma,e the"r ac,ets eas"ly access"ble %or $hen $e trans"t"on o&ts"de( !% yo& cont"n&e mov"n# aro&nd the teacher $or, space yo& $"ll see o&r play and #reet"n# areas( The lar#e table "n the center have the room has stora#e &nderneath "t( Th"s "s $here bloc,s and other b&"ld"n# mater"als can be stored( The table "s a ch"ld he"#ht, so they can eas"ly b&"ld on the table or aro&nd "t( ! $anted to ma,e s&re there $as lots o% space aro&nd the table so the ch"ldren don0t %eel restr"cted "n the"r b&"ld"n#, b&t there "s st"ll room to move aro&nd "t "% needed( 1n the other s"de o% the table yo& $"ll see o&r caterp"llar r&# s&rro&nded by a co&ch, end table, and boo,shelves( Th"s $"ll be o&r #ather"n# place "n the morn"n#( ! chose the r&# $"th the caterp"llar %or a co&ple reasons( My classroom $o&ld be the caterp"llar room, $"th the "dea that once the st&dents #rad&ate %rom pre+K, they $"ll become b&tter%l"es( The r&# also has "nd"v"d&al places %or ,"ds to s"t, so spac"n# $on0t be as m&ch o% an "ss&e( Th"s "s the place $here $e $"ll
have morn"n# meet"n#s are read"n# t"me( Th"s area $"ll also be ava"lable d&r"n# play t"me %or ,"ds $ho $ant to ta,e toys %rom near by shelves and &se them on the r&#( 2e*t to th"s area yo& $"ll also see o&r lo%t( 3nderneath the lo%t "s "ntended to be a 4&"et 'one %or ,"ds( !t $"ll have a s"#n on "t that says 4&"et 'one and $"ll have lots o% lar#e com%y p"llo$s %or ,"ds as $ell as t$o ch"ld s"'e cha"rs( Th"s $"ll be an area %or ,"ds to #o to calm do$n and rela* or $or, o&t "ss&es $"th other st&dents( There $"ll be calm"n# p"ct&res o% nat&re to re"terate the calm"n# nat&re o% the space( There $"ll also be p"ct&re "nstr&ct"ons o% ho$ to $or, o&t problems $"th %r"end, so they can help learn to resolve the"r "ss&es "n a calm manner( The top o% the lo%t ho$ever "s "ntended to an e*tens"on o% the dramat"c play area( The theme o% the top o% the lo%t $"ll chan#e alon# $"th the dramat"c play area and correlate to $hatever the ,"ds "nterests at the t"me( /e can &se decorat"n# the lo%t as a class act"v"ty, and ma,e "t a comm&n"ty space "n $h"ch each ch"ld %eels an o$nersh"p o%( !n the dramat"c play area ! have "ncl&ded a play ,"tchen $h"ch $"ll have play d"shes and %ood( There "s also a clothes rac, and dresser $"th a %&ll len#th m"rror( Th"s "s meant to #"ve ,"ds easy access to the dress &p props, and also have a clear space $here they each belon#( The m"rror "s there not only %or the ,"ds to loo, at themselves $"th, b&t also located "n a $ay that ! can see $hat "s #o"n# on beh"nd the play ,"tchen "% ! need to( The theme o% the dress &p area, re%lected "n the close and props, $"ll chan#e $"th the &n"t that $e are %oc&s"n# on "n school( The ne*t area "s o&r comp&ter $or, stat"ons as $ell as the l"teracy5math stat"ons( Th"s area "s des"#nated by shelves that have toys that $"ll help st&dent $or, on n&mbers and letters( ! chose to p&t the comp&ter $or, stat"ons ne*t to th"s area beca&se the pro#rams ava"lable on the comp&ter $"ll s&pport the $or, be"n# done "n the center( .lso the comp&ters $"ll have access to the "nternet, b&t "t $"ll be mon"tored( ! $"ll ma,e s&re that everyth"n# access"ble by the comp&ter
"s a#e appropr"ate %or my class( ! also chose to ma,e th"s area a b"t more "nt"mate by s&rro&nd"n# "t $"th shelves and ma,"n# the tables smaller( Th"s $"ll ma,e "t more cond&c"ve to "nd"v"d&al or small #ro&p $or,, ma,"n# "t eas"er %or the teacher to reach the "nd"v"d&al needs o% each st&dent( 2e*t to th"s area "s also the sensory table( The mater"al "n the sensory table $"ll chan#e over t"me, b&t $"ll al$ays be some sort o% nat&ral s&bstance s&ch as b"rd seed, or $ood ch"ps( Th"s "s an area that $"ll br"n# a b"t o% the o&tdoors "ns"de, b&t "s placed over the t"le %or easy clean &p( 2e*t to the $or, area yo& $"ll %"nd o&r st&d"o space( The st&d"o has a pa"nt"n# easel, dry"n# rac,, as $ell as access to the $h"te board beh"nd "t( The ch"ldren $"ll be able to pa"nt on the easel or dra$ on the $h"te board( Then there "s a lon# table "n $h"ch a lar#e #ro&p can $or, on one pro ect to#ether( 2e*t to "t there are c&bb"es %or each ch"ld labeled $"th the"r name %or them to store the"r pro ects( Then the lar#e $h"te stora#e &n"t "s &sed to store all other art s&ppl"es( The mater"als that $e are c&rrently &s"n# $"ll be on levels that are reachable %or ,"ds and stored "n clear labeled b"ns, so the ,"ds can see $hat they are #ett"n#( The rest o% the s&ppl"es that are not &sed as o%ten $"ll be stored on h"#her levels or "n dra$ers( The st&d"o table, as $ell as the other tables, $"ll be &sed %or eat"n# t"mes, also all the tables $o&ld have the bl&e stac,able ch"ld s"'e cha"rs 6! &st co&ldn0t delete the cha"rs that came $"th the table on %loorplanner7( The s"n, ne*t to the table $"ll be &sed %or hand+$ash"n# be%ore and a%ter meals( There "s one set o% shelves that $"ll store plast"c s"lver$are, nap,"ns, and place mats that the ,"ds $"ll have access to, so they can set &p the"r o$n eat"n# area be%ore mealt"me( 1ne o% the taller cab"nets $"th doors $"ll be &sed to store nonper"shable %ood prod&cts and e*tra meal t"me s&ppl"es, s&ch as nap,"ns, paper to$els, and #loves( The other cab"net "s $here clean"n# s&ppl"es and %"rst a"d s&ppl"es( These are placed on the top shel%, o&t o% the reach o% ch"ldren( 1n the other shelves, the ch"ldren0s 8nap b"ns9 $"ll be stored( These b"ns $"ll be labeled
$"th each ch"ld0s name and conta"n the"r o$n mat and sheet( Each area o% the room $"ll have d:cor on the $alls correspond"n# to that area( The st&d"o space $"ll have pro ects completed by the ,"ds d"splayed,(The #reet"n# area $"ll have a place %or the sched&le to be d"splayed as $ell as boo,s that $e are %oc&s"n# on( The eat"n# area $"ll have p"ct&res o% healthy meals and also d"splays o% 8My Plate9 so the ch"ldren can ma,e s&re $hat they are eat"n# "s n&tr"t"onal and healthy( The dramat"c play area $"ll have photos that correspond to $hatever the theme "s at the t"me, b&t the photos $"ll be ta,en %rom aro&nd the comm&n"ty, %or e*ample photos o% the local #rocery store "% the theme "s s&permar,ets( .lso at each s"n,, there $"ll be p"ct&re d"rect"ons o% proper hand $ash"n# techn"4&es(
Classroom Routines: !n the morn"n#s the parents $"ll s"#n+"n the"r ch"ld "n the boo,s o&ts"de the classroom( The parents $"ll chec, the b&llet"n board and the"r dropbo*es %or any ne$ "n%ormat"on( Then they can enter the room and the ch"ld "s %ree to play &nt"l "t "s t"me %or school to start( Th"s "s an opport&n"ty %or me to tal, a l"ttle b"t $"th the %am"l"es so ! can ,eep &pdated $"th $hat "s #o"n# on "n the"r homes( !t also #"ves me an opport&n"ty to b&"ld a relat"onsh"p $"th the %am"ly and start b&"ld"n# a relat"onsh"p( /hen "t "s t"me %or class to be#"n at 9;00 a(m(! $"ll r"n# a ch"me that $"ll be the s"#nal to clean &p the"r space( ! $"ll tell the class that "t "s t"me to p&t a$ay $hat they are do"n# and come meet me at the caterp"llar carpet( .t th"s t"me $e $"ll start $"th a #reet"n# son#, l",e 8The More /e Get To#ether(9 .%ter th"s $e $"ll #o over the plan %or the day( ! $"ll have a sched&le $r"tten &p on the $h"te board alon# $"th p"ct&res so they can have an "dea o% $hat the day $"ll loo, l",e( ! $"ll tell them $hat ,"nds o% th"n#s are "n the st&d"o and "n the dramat"c play area( .%ter o&r
meet"n# $e $"ll have "ndoor %ree play %or abo&t 30 m"n&tes and then $e $"ll br"n# o&t morn"n# snac, at 10 a(m(( /e $"ll clean o% the tables and have snac, ava"lable on the co&nter %or them to #et themselves( Each ch"ld "% they $ant can p&t $hat they are do"n# a$ay, $ash the"r hands, and #et the"r o$n nap,"ns or s"lver$are "% needed( D&rn# snac,, and every mealt"me %or that matter, n&tr"t"on and healthy eat"n# $"ll be d"sc&ssed( /e $"ll tal, abo&t $hat $e are eat"n# and $hy "t "s healthy( /e can &se the p"ct&res "n the room and the 8My Plate9 n&tr"t"onal #&"del"nes as re%erences( 2&tr"t"on ed&cat"on "s a very "mportant part o% <ead )tart pro#rams, so th"s "s ,ey( There $"ll also be a opt"ons o% snac,s and meals ava"lable to accommodate ch"ldren $"th d"etary needs( /hen they are done $"th snac, they are %ree to cont"n&e play &nt"l 10;30( ! $"ll r"n# the ch"me a#a"n and "t $"ll be t"me to #o o&ts"de( Each ch"ld $"ll p&t the"r $or, a$ay and then #ather the"r th"n#s to l"ne &p at the door( /e $"ll be o&ts"de %or an abo&t an ho&r and then &se the same ro&t"ne to l"ne &p to come bac, "ns"de( 1nce the ,"ds are "ns"de they $"ll $ash the"r hands and then come meet to#ether on the carpet( ! $"ll start s"n#"n# son#s $"th the ,"ds &nt"l every ch"ld "s bac, on the r&#( Then ! $"ll read them a story and "t $"ll be t"me to #et ready %or l&nch( 1ne by one each ch"ld $"ll be sent to #o $ash the"r hands and #et the"r place sett"n#s to#ether and #et the"r l&nch o%% the co&nter, the same $ay they do snac,( /hen the ch"ld "s %"n"shed eat"n# they $"ll clean &p the"r area, $ash the"r hands, and then a teacher or parent $"ll help them #et o&r the"r nap b"n( They $"ll then set &p the"r mat and sheet over "n the carpeted area( =&nch $"ll be over at 12;30 and each ch"ld $"ll have the"r mats o&t by then( >or the ch"ldren $ho are not napp"n#, they are %ree to $or, 4&"etly "n the spaces $here no ch"ld "s sleep"n#, the dramat"c play, the lo%t, and the bloc,s $"ll be closed at th"s t"me( .t 2;00 nap "s over and the ,"ds p&t the"r b"ns a$ay( .t th"s t"me the other ch"ldren $"ll p&t the"r $or, a$ay and everyone $"ll meet on the
caterp"llar r&# a#a"n( ! $"ll "ntrod&ce the act"v"t"es that $"ll be ava"lable "n the a%ternoon( .ll spaces $"ll be open a#a"n %or the ,"ds to play "n, or the can choose to part"c"pate "n the pro ect %or that day( .t 3;00 a%ternoon snac, $"ll be ava"lable and the process $"ll $or, the same as morn"n# snac,( .t 3;30, $hen snac, "s over the ,"ds $"ll l"ne &p a#a"n, &s"n# the same ro&t"ne, and #o o&ts"de( /e $"ll come bac, "ns"de, $ash hands, and then meet a#a"n on the r&# to $rap &p o&r day at ?;30( /e $"ll tal, abo&t $hat $e d"d that day and $hat $e learned abo&t( .%ter th"s meet"n# the ,"ds can part"c"pate "n "ndoor %ree play &nt"l the"r %am"l"es come and p"c, them &p( .t any t"me o% the day "% a ch"ld needs to &se the restroom they $"ll be allo$ed to do so( The bathroom "s sect"oned o%% %rom the room, b&t not completely separate "n case a teacher needs to be "n there to help them( !% the class "s "ns"de a ch"ld can &se the bathroom $henever they need to, b&t "% $e are o&ts"de they m&st as, an ad< and $e $"ll #o "ns"de the classroom $"th them %or them to #o( /hen the %am"l"es come they $"ll s"#n the ch"ld o&t "n the same boo, they s"#ned+"n "n the morn"n#( Then they $"ll come "ns"de and #et the"r ch"ld( ! $"ll tell them all abo&t the ,"nds o% th"n#s the"r ch"ld d"d that day( The ch"ld $"ll #ather all the"r belon#"n#s %rom the"r c&bby and be sent home( !% someone "s p"c,"n# &p the ch"ld $ho has not done so be%ore, $e $"ll !(D that person and ma,e s&re they are on the l"st o% people that are approved to p"c, &p that ch"ld( /e cannot release a ch"ld to someone $ho has not been a&thor"'ed to do so( .t any part o% the day parents are $elcome and enco&ra#ed to part"c"pate "n or %ac"l"tate act"v"t"es "n the classroom( <ead )tart pro#rams val&e parent part"c"pat"on and h"#hly recommend "t, so at anyt"me parents are $elcome to come "n and help the teacher ,eep the class r&nn"n#(
Classroom Climate: There are a %e$ $ays ! plan to create a pos"t"ve classroom cl"mate "n my room( The %"rst $ay ! "ntend to do th"s "s by ma,"n# my classroom a team o% learners( @y #"v"n# my room a name, "n th"s case the caterp"llar room, each st&dent $"ll th"n, o% themselves as a caterp"llar and part o% o&r caterp"llar team( 1&r %re4&ent #ro&p meet"n#s $"ll help re"n%orce th"s "deal( Thro&#h these meet"n#s $e $"ll learn to apprec"ate and respect each other, as $ell as learn the ro&t"nes %or the class( @eca&se the same ro&t"nes $"ll be &sed da"ly, the ch"ldren $"ll be con%"dent "n the"r ab"l"t"es to %ollo$ "t( .nother $ay ! plan to create a pos"t"ve classroom env"ronment "s by allo$"n# the %reedom o% cho"ce( Each ch"ld "s #o"n# to %eel respons"b"l"ty over h"s or her o$n day( They are able to access $hatever they need "ndependently, so they $"ll %eel empo$ered to do so( The $ay ! have arran#ed and des"#ned the classroom "s also an "mportant $ay ! %oster a pos"t"ve env"ronment( Each area o% the room "s des"#ned %or a spec"%"c p&rpose( There are areas %or both lar#e #ro&p, small #ro&p, and "nd"v"d&al $or,( Th"s $ay the ch"ld $"ll have opt"ons as to $hat ,"nd o% st"m&lat"on he or she "s com%ortable $"th( The 4&"et 'one "s also ava"lable %or ch"ldren to step o&t o% $hat "s #o"n# on and #et some peace %or a $h"le( Th"s area can also be &sed %or con%l"ct resol&t"on( Th"s $ay any ch"ld or ch"ldren $ho are act"n# &p can #o there to resolve the"r "ss&es and not d"sr&pt the rest o% the class( ! also des"#ned the classroom "n a $ay that $"ll ma,e "t %eel more l",e home( .ll the shelves and tables &sed $o&ld be o% a nat&ral $ood and the %&rn"t&re ! p"c,ed "s meant to m"m"c %&rn"t&re that m"#ht be %o&nd "n a home( Th"s $"ll help the ch"ldren %eel more rela*ed, sa%e, and com%ortable "n the env"ronment( Thro&#ho&t the room the ch"ldren $"ll also see themselves re%lected( The"r o$n art pro ects and #ro&p pro ects $"ll be on d"splay( /e $"ll also as, %am"l"es to br"n# "n photos %rom home that $e can p&t &p aro&nd the room "n p"ct&re %rames, &st l",e yo&
m"#ht see at home( The lan#&a#e ! &se "s also another part o% creat"n# a pos"t"ve classroom env"ronment( .ll ch"ldren $"ll be enco&ra#ed to play and $or, creat"vely and ta,e "n"t"at"ve over the"r o$n learn"n#, %or th"s the"r $"ll be lots o% pos"t"ve re"n%orc"n# lan#&a#e( Th"s $"ll help them %eel more empo$ered "n the classroom( !% a ch"ld does need re%oc&s at some po"nt red"rect"n# or rem"nd"n# lan#&a#e $"ll be &sed so the ch"ld $"ll not %eel attac,ed or bel"ttled( Parents be"n# a part o% o&r classroom $"ll also help create a pos"t"ve classroom cl"mate( The parents are not only there to help b&t also to learn and "n t&rn the teachers #et an opport&n"ty to learn %rom the parents( !n my classroom $e all learn %rom each other and $or, to cont"n&e to s&pport each other "n o&r endeavors(
Professional Reflection: The process o% creat"n# my o$n classroom $as a very "n%ormat"ve one( !n my %"rst dra$"n# ! "ncl&ded everyth"n# that sa"d $as re4&"red "n the descr"pt"on( .ltho&#h, ! tho&#ht ! had, ! d"dn0t really #"ve as m&ch tho&#ht to the p&rpose o% $hat ! $as creat"n#( .%ter #o"n# thro&#h th"s semester ! real"'ed ho$ every l"ttle deta"l o% yo&r classroom "s "mportant( )o "n th"s #o aro&nd ! p&t everyth"n# "n my classroom $"th an "ntent"on( ! also became more a$are o% all the var"ety o% th"n#s ! can "ncl&de( ! had m&ch more space than ! had or"#"nally tho&#h, so ! $as e*c"ted to ta,e advanta#e o% "t( /"th each area o% my classroom ! tho&#ht abo&t $hat ! $as p&tt"n# "n there and $hy( ! tho&#ht abo&t my ,"ds and the"r %am"l"es and $hat $o&ld be most &se%&l %or them to have "n school( !n my classroom ! tr"ed to ma,e "t a sa%e haven %or ch"ldren and %am"l"es, $here they co&ld escape %rom some o% the hardsh"ps e*per"enced at home( ! $anted my classroom to be an
e*c"t"n# place %or %am"l"es to come and learn( @&t ! also $anted to ma,e s&re that my classroom $as very m&ch a part o% the comm&n"ty( That "s $hy yo& see the comm&n"ty and the %am"l"es re%lected thro&#ho&t the room, and $hy ! also made s&re that there $as a place %or parents to see a calendar o% events that $as #o"n# on( ! $anted comm&n"cat"on bet$een %am"l"es and teacher to be easy and %ree %lo$"n#, so ! created systems to do so( These $ere th"n#s ! had not or"#"nally tho&#ht abo&t "n my %"rst plan( My %"rst plan also d"dn0t "ncl&de a teacher $or, space( .%ter see"n# var"o&s classrooms and $or,"n# "n one mysel% ! sa$ ho$ cr&c"al th"s "s, beca&se "% the teacher "s &nor#an"'ed the class $"ll be &nor#an"'ed( ! "ncl&ded a $or, space that $as separate %rom the rest o% the room as to not d"stract %rom $hat $as #o"n# on "n the classroom, b&t st"ll very m&ch a part o% the room so ! co&ld be "n "t $"tho&t mess"n# &p the rat"os( 1verall ! th"n, ! have become m&ch more o% a cr"t"cal th"n,er $hen "t comes to classroom des"#n( ! have learned $hat "t means to ma,e yo&r classroom c<&rally respons"ve and developmentally appropr"ate and ! th"n, that "n early ch"ldhood ! th"n, that means ,eep"n# yo&r room dynam"c $"th an element o% str&ct&re( .s yo& can see "n my room there "s the same ro&t"ne and trans"t"ons &sed every day, b&t the content $"ll chan#e and #ro$ as the ch"ldren do( . lot happens "n an early ch"ldhood classroom and "t "s ,ey that the env"ronment "s as m&ch a teacher as yo& are(