Note: please watch videos one at a time, and in the order presented.Also note that these videos are playing along with the words on the page. The videos are of Carl Honeycutt, Rita Rae's son.
We (Carl Honeycutt, and Rita Rae) are working on actually getting the videos to load, so, thank you for your patience.
I am an extremely creative person. I love to defy limits and limitations. I love to think outside the box. I love to offer choices, and independence in my classroom. One of the great challenges I deal with on a daily basis is the mess. (Oh, yeah, that.) We creative types LOVE to get our hands dirty, and get up to our elbows in whatever we are trying to teach the children. Then, there's a dire moment of realization when that buzzer goes off (either internally or externally) when the "Clock" says it's time to stop this Fabulous Party and Clean Up! (Wah, wah, wah, Decending Downer Triad).
Soooooo creative-type teachers... (AKA:ME) Don't Panic! The greatest solutions to cleanliness and organization can be user-friendly, accessible, and easy to implement. Since the area of organization is a life-long journey for me, I have done some research in finding some very attractive room arrangements that facilitate organization and tidiness.
Behind Curtain Number One: comes a lovely classroom design by Safari Learning Center found at:
The second picture is the preschool classroom for children ages 3 to 4 years old.
The final picture shows the 4-5 year old classroom.
These
are colorful, well-lit, roomy classrooms that are very inviting. There is good natural lighting from the windows. The room is uncluttered. Centers are well-organized and inviting. It would be easy to establish routine in such
a well-structured and attractive room.
Behind Curtain Number Two: Remembering the One Room School House.
Images by Jodie Coston at AcclaimImages.com
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During the days when my mother attended school, all children, ages K-8th grade met in a one-room school house. The ideology for learning focused on memorization and recitation. The teacher would give the lesson, the children would memorize it and recite it the next day. Rote and repetition were the methods used for learning. There is not a lot of floor space or accomodation for self-exploration or self-paced learning. Life before the late nineteenth century was a time when children were to be seen and not heard. They were expected to do as they were told, and keep silent most of the time. What a different world and learning experience that must have been!
BEHIND CURTAIN NUMBER THREE IS MY FAVORITE PRESCHOOL CLASSROOM DESIGN: This one comes from Lakeshore, and can be found in "Colors of Nature" section for classroom furniture.
I really love this design, because the colors are so inviting, and align with nature. I love the rug, and the small stuffed chairs. It is very organized, and stations are evident. I would love to be a child, and come to this classroom to play!
