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Helpful Hints: Creating Interest Areas
Setting up interest areas with in the classroom is important for
the making of a classroom that promotes the growth and development for a child.
Here are areas that are typically in an early childhood classroom:
• Blocks (unit blocks, people and transportation)
• Dramatic Play (kitchen set, dress-up clothes & dolls)
• Fine Motor or Manipulative (tables, puzzles, pegs & beads)
• Art (easels, paint, crayons & paper)
• Sand & Water (sand and water table, funnels, measuring cups & sponges)
• Library (book display, books & soft cushions)
• Music and Movement (dance/prop storage, musical instruments/players)
• Storage for Personal Belongings (lockers, storage bins, etc.)
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Setting the Stage for Transition to Kindergarten
Making the leap from preschool to kindergarten can be a difficult passage.
It is a foundation for any teacher to ensure that their program assists with meeting
the developmental needs of both the minds and bodies of the children.
Regretfully, many times preschool teachers feel that they need to
gear their entire focus on the learning of the "ABCs" and "123s",
all the while neglecting the children's need for social develop.
The following are ideas to keep in mind when preparing your children for the transition:
Teach more than the ABC song. Yes, we all know the song.
I sing it with my son all the time. But it is just a song.
It is great for rhythm, which will eventually help with building mathematical skills.
When teaching the song also teach the relationship between the letter and the word.
(i.e. when talking about the letter "A" introduce the words that start with "A".)
This is such an awkward stage of a child's development.
Design your classroom with your child's size in mind.
Rather than the big clunky individual metal desks, use a WD17200 Mini Desk
and instead of the small WD12400 24" Mobile Single Storage Unit,
try a larger unit such as the WD13600 36" Mobile Single Storage Unit.
Remember that play is still the main way that a child learns new concepts.
It is up to the teacher to introduce new ideas to the existing activities.
I can not emphasize enough the need to develop social skills.
You can do this by encouraging both parallel play and group play.
Encourage the children to truly work on their self-help skills
and rely less on the teacher for direction on simple tasks
(cleaning-up, choosing activities during free play, going to the bathroom by himself or herself).
Once they get into the kindergarten the teacher/child ratio is going to be higher
and the teachers may not have the time to devote to developing these skills.
Remembering these simple points will help to better prepare the children to extend their learning process.
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The aforementioned are professional opinions. All of these are the sole property of WDM, Inc.
Any use of the contents, above statements, or ideas requires the written permission of WDM, Inc. Violators will be prosecuted.
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Helpful Hint of the Month...
Step Up and Wash™
Wood Designs' Step Up and Wash™ (WD21200)
is a great tool that assists children with self help skills.
When not in use, the Step Up and Wash™
can be turned in the opposite direction to encourage proper use.
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WD21200
Step Up and Wash™
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Check us out in this article on the web...
The Ultimate Early Ed Blueprint
Creating an ideal early childhood education space in your school district is a no-brainer,
once you understand how to see and think like a tot.
By Julie Sturgeon, DistrictAdministration.com, May 2004
http://www.districtadministration.com/page.cfm?p=734
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Teacher Resources: Helpful Hints Archive
Our past Helpful Hints articles, organized & archived
for your convenience in setting-up your own classroom.
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Enhance interest areas by providing enough shelving & storage bins
for the amount of materials provided in the classroom.
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