One of the things that I stress the most to the adult educators I teach in higher education classes is that the learning environment is crucial to children’s success. We need to look at every aspect of the learning environment from every angle. We need to understand what can be changed in the environment and what cannot – often it’s more than we think. We need to understand how children respond to the environment and based on their behavior alter the environment to meet their needs. We talk about the furniture, the materials, what we have control over and what we do not.

I firmly believe this. Teachers must take the time to evaluate what is going on in their classroom and understand the environment as a possible help or hindrance to children’s behavior and learning. One way to do this is to draw out the room and have an area that is Noisy, Quiet, Wet and Dry and once this is written in quadrants, then teachers can decide what goes into each. Teachers should advocate for what they need in the classroom – either from a materials perspective, furniture, sink, etc.

The environment can make or break a child’s day, and children may need different things from the environment. However, some level of consistency and structure is needed for them to feel safe and thrive. This level of consistency might vary based on the program, philosophy, and children.

In my higher education work, I hope to instill teachers with the confidence to examine their environment thoroughly, document their findings, and adjust when needed. I would like them to feel empowered to make the changes needed to set up all children for success.