An inclusive early childhood classroom area is an intentional surroundings that promotes each bodily and emotional improvement. On this episode, host Nancy Chung interviews early childhood professional Jennifer Fernandez, and we welcome again Cecilia Cruse, MS, OTR/L, to debate methods to create an early childhood area and easy methods to modify it to encourage independence and inclusivity.
Energetic and Partaking Surroundings
Necessary issues for creating an attractive early childhood area embrace offering a transparent spatial boundary definition. If deep contact stress enter isn’t accessible, there are numerous gadgets that can be utilized as spot markers. Generally utilized in bodily schooling, a set of coloured tiles or tactile shapes work properly as visible “seed spots” to set clear boundary expectations.
Lots of our kids want that further boundary enter in order that they know the place they’re in area, as a result of their very own physique doesn’t register properly sufficient but. So these are youngsters that fall off their chair or crash into different youngsters. We’ve to arrange very clear boundaries that give deep contact stress to their physique, if attainable. But when not, not less than a visible cue, like a spot marker or painter’s tape on the ground, whether or not it’s color-based or shape-based, in order that they know the place they belong in area.
Cecilia Cruse
Open, Spacious, and Litter-free
An early childhood classroom ought to embrace gadgets which might be purposeful and intentional. All the pieces from acoustics to paint palette will have an effect on younger learners. The suitable manipulatives needs to be inclusive and assist college students develop effective motor abilities. If there’s an excessive amount of colour or the room is just too vivid, light-dampening shades will help relieve added stress and overstimulation from fluorescent lighting.
The instructor ought to be capable to know the ‘why’ behind every thing in your classroom. Why are you utilizing this piece of furnishings? Why do you may have this materials out? Which is form of a frightening factor to consider as a instructor. Can I clarify every thing in my classroom? However when you’ve got been purposeful and intentional, you need to be capable to do this.
Jennifer Fernandez
Encourage Independence and Inclusivity
As mentioned in a earlier episode, there are a selection of the way to create an attractive sensory area that’s appropriate for everybody. You possibly can even flip frequent classroom supplies into adaptive instruments that promote inclusivity within the classroom. An inclusive common design is adaptive for college kids with particular wants and encourages unbiased studying for all early childhood college students.
Jennifer Fernandez – Early Childhood Topic Matter Skilled at Faculty Specialty
Jennifer has over 30 years of expertise in schooling. She has a BA in Elementary Schooling & Spanish and a Grasp’s in Bilingual Schooling. She has taught PreK4-2nd grade on the whole & bilingual/twin language settings in Texas, Minnesota, and Mexico Metropolis. She was knowledgeable studying specialist for PreK4SA in San Antonio for seven years. Jennifer is at the moment the nationwide Early Childhood Topic Matter Skilled at Faculty Specialty, the place she helps gross sales, advertising and marketing, and merchandising within the early childhood class, gives skilled improvement, and presents at state and nationwide early childhood conferences all through the nation.
Cecilia Cruse MS, OTR/L – Particular Wants Topic Matter Skilled at Faculty Specialty
Cecilia acquired her BS diploma in Occupational Remedy from the College of Florida and her Grasp’s in Schooling from Georgia State College. She is SIPT (Sensory Integration & Praxis Check) licensed. She has over 30 years of expertise in pediatrics with school-based providers (together with preschool and Head Begin applications), acute care, and outpatient pediatric settings, together with Augusta College in Georgia and Youngsters’s Healthcare of Atlanta at Scottish Ceremony. Cecilia has expertise as a advisor, creator, and lecturer, together with TV appearances similar to CNN’s Well being Watch. She has authored a number of articles for skilled periodicals and magazines and has served as a coach, advisor, and repair supplier in a number of faculty methods. Cecilia is at the moment the Topic Matter Skilled for Abilitations and Faculty Specialty’s Particular Wants Division, the place she steadily consults with Studying Surroundings Specialists to make suggestions for inclusive and sensory-friendly areas and school rooms. She additionally lectures nationwide on sensible sensory options for educators and therapists.
