Sunday 23 September 2012

Before and After: Science Table

Before
After
You may notice the shelf on the far right, it's actually an old play fridge and we simply recycled by removing the door and displaying materials in clear plastic containers.

Before and After: Cubbies

Before

After 

Before and After: Book Bins

Before



 
After
 

Before and After: Sink

Before



After

Our Snack Table



This year we have decided to have a snack table where the students can go and eat their snack throughout the day whenver they are hungry.




 

Before and After: Blocks

Before
After


Before and After: Art Storage

Before

After
 
 

Before and After: Art Studio

Before

After
 

Before and After: Meeting Space

Before


After


Before and After: Teacher Desks

Before

After 

Tuesday 11 September 2012

Our Classroom Environment Transformation

We spent the last two weeks of August setting up our learning environment to reflect our personal inspirations from the principles of Reggio Emilia.  We wanted to create an environment that was aesthetically pleasing, organized, clutter-free, calm, transparent, comfortable, inviting and engaging.  While transforming our classroom environment we reflected on a powerful quote from the book Designs for Living and Learning: Transforming Early Childhood Environments.  This quote has had a big impact on us.

"Children are miracles.  Believing that
every child is a miracle can transform the
way we design for children's care.  When
we invite a miracle into our lives, we prepare
ourselves and the environment around us.
We may set out flowers or special offerings.
We may cleanse ourselves, the space, or our
thoughts of everything but the love inside us.
We make it our job to create, with reverence
and gratitude, a space that is worthy of a
miracle!  Action follows thoughts.  We can
choose to change.  We can choose to design
spaces for miracles, not minimums."
    - Anita Rui Olds, 1999

Throughout the year we will continue to reflect on our classroom environment and make any necessary changes.



View from the front doorway before...


View from the front doorway now.





View from the back before...

View from the back now.


More pictures to follow.......