The Choice to Invite

The way we choose to display the materials in our classrooms communicates a lot about the way we view children. Being thoughtful with the materials, and taking the time to present materials in an attractive, inviting way, indicates to children, and the broader community, several things:

• We value their thinking
• We respect their work
• We appreciate the processes in which they engage

In the busy and sometimes hectic world of early childhood education, it can be tempting to simply toss out a bucket of Legos and walk away. But taking the time to stop and reflect shows children that you respect them as thinkers, creators, and builders. It sharpens their sense of your view of them - as capable, inquiring minds who are ready to take on the wonders they encounter each day. It also conveys the message that you have a deep respect for the materials in the classroom and encourages them to internalize the same respect in themselves. Setting high expectations creates an opportunity for children to rise to these expectations; cultivating a community of independent, autonomous children requires this type of thinking.

When the choice is made to make the shift to creating invitations, as opposed to simply tossing out materials with no regard to their presentation, the results are amazing. I've reflected before on the ways in which children tend to be underestimated and I've now come to wonder if it is really on us, the adults, to create opportunities for children to show us just how capable they really are.

It has been fascinating for me to see how thoughtful invitations empower children to see themselves as capable. I often talk about the fact that children still manage to surprise me with their thinking on a regular basis. Never has this been more clear than when I set up materials in an engaging, attractive way and the children rearrange them into something unexpected and spectacular. It is heartening to me to see children take the initiative to set up invitations for themselves and their classmates, invitations full of wonder, beauty, and promise.

It is a wonderful testament to just how capable they are when they start creating invitations that are as intricate and interesting as any adult's!

"Children have real understanding only of that which they invent themselves." - Jean Piaget

The Third Teacher - Exploring and Sharing Classroom Spaces

A new school year is upon us and with it comes, at least for me, a revamping of my current classroom environment. The Reggio Emilia philosophy places so much emphasis on the importance of the physical classroom environment that it is often referred to as the "third teacher." In the spirit of inspiration and excitement for the new year, and in the knowledge that there is always room for growth and change, here is a virtual tour of our sacred space - our classroom, our third teacher.

Our Book Nook - an area for gathering, reading, resting, connecting and discussing:

 

Our Job Board - children choose a classroom job each Monday morning and place their picture over the job they want for the duration of the week

Found object alphabet

Our Writing Area:

Mini Studio - An area for creating and exploring:

 Lots of seating and natural light!

 We try to maintain the area by keeping things simple, accessible, and inviting.

 We find and rotate interesting materials to encourage all children to feel comfortable creating representations of their world.

Our Construction Area:

 We incorporate as many real-life building materials as possible, including bricks and roof shingles.

Our Dramatic Play Area:

 

Our Dramatic Play area changes frequently based on the interests of the children, but we like to start the year with a space that is homey and comfortable, without an overwhelming amount of materials.

Our Science Areas:

  Our "Wonder Window": The children are invited to sit and contemplate the world outside of our classroom window. Writing materials are made available for children to draw or write about their observations.

Our Loose Parts Shelf:

So many gorgeous and exciting materials to explore!

 

Around the Classroom - We try to add personal touches around the room to make it a space that is beautiful, comfortable, and inviting.

 

 

  One of the most interesting and exciting aspects of our environment is the fact that it is constantly evolving - both in response to the needs of the community, and in response to the interests and ideas of the children. It is rather a lovely place to spend our days, living and learning from one another.