Assignment:
Environment Evaluation
The child care facility environment will influence child-child, child-adult, and child-material interactions. Every aspect of the facility's design deserves attention. The building, playgrounds, and learning materials and equipment that teachers and caregivers use in their work with children must, above all, be safe and in good repair. When selecting furnishings, materials, and equipment, care should be taken to make the environment convenient, beautiful, and full of interesting and sometimes unexpected details. The learning environment has a significant impact on the quality of children's experiences in the program and requires purposeful planning and evaluation. Additionally, learning extends from the classroom into the outdoors. For that reason, creating and evaluating outdoor environments require an equal amount of consideration. Playground equipment and arrangement must, above all, be safe. When carefully planned and constructed, playgrounds have the opportunity to enhance children's learning across many developmental domains in unique ways.
For this assignment, please read the text and, using the program you have committed to for this course, pick one infant, toddler, or preschooler classroom and
Use Preschooler classroom
1. Review the environment, with attention to the following: (Reviewing pictures of the facility is an option if you are unable to physically do so)
- The use of color
- The use of natural and artificial light
- The perception of clutter
- Wall coverings used
- Floor covering(s) used
- Types of learning centers available
- Materials available in learning centers
2. Write a one to two page narrative that addresses
- Three recommendations for improvement.
- Three strengths of the classroom design based on the categories identified above.
- Why and how you think these recommendations and strengths should be improved.
The Environment Evaluation paper
Must be one to two double-spaced pages in length (not including title and references pages) and formatted according to APA style as outlined.
Recommended Resources
Books
Bloom, P. J. (2005). Blueprint for action: Achieving center-based change through staff development (2nd ed.). Lake Forest, IL: New Horizons.
- This comprehensive book on creating center-based change for quality may assist you in your discussion.
Curtis, D., & Carter, M. (2003). Designs for living and learning: Transforming early childhood environments. St. Paul, MN: Redleaf Press.
- This book on planning children's environments may assist you in your Environment Evaluation Assignment.
Articles
U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission. (2015). Public playground safety handbook.
- This resource is a safety handbook on children's outdoor environments and may assist you in your Environment Evaluation Assignment this week.
Web Pages
Child Care Aware. (n.d.). Preparing a budget for a child care business
- This web page provides links to interactive worksheets to help you project your center's income and expenses (as well as sources for grants and loans), and it may assist you in your interactive assignment.
Frank Porter Graham Child Development Institute. (n.d.). Environment rating scales
- This web page provides a useful overview of each of the four Environment Rating Scales and may assist you in your Environment Evaluation assignment.
South Carolina Child Care Resource & Referral Network. (n.d.). Materials & equipment
- This web page provides a guide on planning children's preschool environment and may assist you in your Environment Evaluation assignment this week.
United States Consumer Product Safety Commission. (n.d.). Public playground safety checklist
- This webpage provides access to a safety checklist that may assist you in your Environment Evaluation assignment.
United States Department of Labor, Bureau of Labor Statistics. (2014). Occupational employment and wages.