The Prepared Environment
The classroom and outdoor environments are carefully prepared by the teachers, with children's independence in mind. All of the furniture is child-sized, the shelving is low, so the children can independently retrieve and replace materials as they desire. All materials on the shelves are well-made and self-contained, with all of the supplies needed for that activity. Children at this age have a strong sense of order, so everything has its place in the environment. |
The Children
One of the biggest things children of this age are working on is how to live peacefully and respectfully with others. Grace and Courtesy lessons are offered frequently to show the children and allow them to practice respectful ways of interacting with each other. They are also given opportunities to learn how to voice their desires and concerns to others. |
The Adults
The adults in the classroom carefully observe the children to learn what kinds of supports and new lessons they might be ready for in the areas of Practical Life, Sensorial, Language and Writing, Math, Sciences, Geography and Cultural Studies and Art. They are frequently evaluating how the children interact with each other and how the children move in the classroom. This leads to guidance for how to tweak the classroom or routines periodically to meet the needs being presented. The adults act as facilitators, or guides, to the children, meeting the needs presented. |