Article Link: http://exchangepress.com/article/emergent-environments-involving-children-in-classroom-design/5015741/
As teachers and directors, we have a growing awareness of the need to design environments for young children that are aesthetically pleasing, inviting, and nurturing, in addition to being functional and safe. Taking our cue from the comforts of our own homes and from the careful attention to beauty we see in schools like those of Reggio Emilia, Italy, many of us are replacing molded plastic furniture and mass-produced décor with softer materials, wicker baskets, collections of attractive treasures, and elements from the natural world.At the same time, we’re also coming to value a teaching-learning relationship that gives children authorship of their own curriculum, moving towards a more organic model for planning activities and projects. Again, following the lead of the Reggio Emilia schools, we’re using close observation of the children’s play to consider what provocations or experiences to offer next. By embracing this kind of flexible planning, we’re making room for unexpected courses of study to emerge, and for current interests to be deepened and extended.
Holding these two values together �" a beautiful, inviting environment, and an emergent curriculum based on observation �" we uncover a new possibility: we can create environments that reflect and support our vision of children ...