The Environment
The classroom environment plays a crucial role in the teaching and learning process, provoking students’ curiosity and creativity, stimulating the imagination, and encouraging students to become critical thinkers and problem solvers. The classrooms are intentionally designed and prepared by the educators in collaboration with others in the Preschool to optimize small and large group interaction, social play, and constructive learning.
Classroom spaces are well-defined for children to guide their exploration and invite social and cognitive experiences. Specific aspects of the classroom environment may include: a meeting space for group gathering and reading, a message/writing area, a construction area for blocks and other building materials, a mini art studio, and a dramatic play area. The classrooms are organized with materials that are carefully chosen, presented, and stored at the child’s level to encourage maximum independence.
The Preschool also has specialized spaces throughout the school that are shared by all classrooms, including a library, the Studio, outdoor and covered playgrounds, an outdoor classroom, a gathering area for large groups, and a sensory room.
All of the Preschool’s spaces are designed to create a comfortable atmosphere that encourages safe exploration, allowing children to discover, make friends, and learn. It is within this environment that educators seek to create a sense of community built on trust and respect as well as develop imagination, creativity, and problem-solving skills capacity.
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