Organizing The Early Childhood Classroom
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Pay scales for teachers remain a debated issue ranging from merit pay to the traditional yearly step increase. Having teaching experience at every grade level in both general and special education I have always been a proponent of what I call the "youngest student rule" which states the younger the student, the greater the pay. I base my deduction on the fact that the younger the student, the more active supervision they need.
Students in the early grades may have learning disabilities and other problems that have yet to be diagnosed. Maturity can be an issue, and teachers as well as parents may overlook a problem just because it is "too soon to tell." Additionally budget cuts may increase class size and staff reductions that can really reek havoc in the life of an early childhood teacher. The teachers assistants can be cut as well as additional support staff. Special area classes such as art, music and physical education may well be cut making it even more stressful for the EC teacher. Now she must provide that instruction as well as giving up what would have otherwise been valuable planning time.
Early learning is very important. It sets the stage for the entire educational life of the student.A good positive early learning experience provides the basis for life-long learning. That could be another argument for my youngest student pay scale rule.
As I know of no school system that goes my early childhood teacher that needs more pay theory then I shall share some organizational ideas for the early childhood classroom that I hope will help.
Why Stay Organized?
Organization is a key factor in classroom management at any grade level and will ensure smooth operating all through the day. The well organized classroom fosters improved instruction and promotes better student behavior. If the teacher has to stop and look for materials, then what educators refer to as down-time can occur. Students will not be engaged in the lesson. Therefore, a lack of good instruction can cause behavior problems.
The teacher of young children will make hundreds of decisions during a typical day. Thousands of thoughts will pass through her mind. A well organized classroom can help a teacher concentrate on the lesson to be taught and the needs of the students.
Organization will mean smoother transitions between activities. Less time will be wasted. Young students will feel more secure and happier. The teacher in turn will be less tired at the end of the day and have more energy for herself, her family and for preparing for the next day's activities. It is a win-win situation!
Take a picture tour of one super teacher's classroom to spark ideas for organizing an early childhood classroom.
Special Thanks To Angela McMillan and Hazel Grove Elementary School, Mt. Airy, GA. USA
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You are so right! It is worrisome to have to skimp on the education of our future citizens!Thanks for your comment!
Fantastic ideas. Love the pics.
I truly enjoyed your hub article and find the topic to hold a lot of fantastic ideas and aids for teachers. The pictures are great examples of how it's done and how things can be kept orderly for the teacher and children. Totally agree that if a teacher is not prepared and organized you will experience more disciplinary actions taken during the day. This is one for early childhood instruction rulebooks! Voted up!
Thanks Esmeowl2 and teaches12345 for the compliments and the votes up!
Really wonderful advice and I like the way that you bring your tips to life with the photos.
Thanks for SHARING, voting this up, useful and AWESOME!
This is a wonderful hub with some cool pictures and great ideas.
Compared to Indian classrooms you have so many facilities to help children's learning.
Voting up and sharing
Thanks Thumbi7. Interesting comment. This classroom is in a poorly funded district. The school is old and the teachers make great use of what they have!
Early childhood education is a paramount to a child's success in school down the road. Its so important to make that initial investment so as to reap rewards in terms of academic performance and a aptitude for learning. Matters that are overlooked at this stage can have negative outcomes in the future.
I completely agree with the early years of a child's life requiring more attention and importance. Managing the classroom and the students is critical in ensuring that much time is not wasted that could be used to help an individual child receive the care they need to perform well.
Its definitely troubling to hear of setbacks that teachers have to face in terms of staffing and providing the care the child needs. Its important to have well staffed schools. I do hope the regulators and decision makers are listening. Thanks for sharing this informative hub. I will definitely share this with my followers. Thanks again.
It's great that you are sharing. I hope this little article finds a new and perhaps frustrated teacher to help. She(or he) kids parents and an entire community might benefit. Thanks for that!
I want your classroom!!! I love the big shelves with all the tubs. I need this! I also love how you did the chair bags from pillowcases...this will be something I will do...Your room looks larger than mine - and I share with another teacher. We often have six small groups going at the same time with three separate horseshoe tables...I am hoping that next year things will be different and I will have my own room...but I have been told this before and I still share a room!
You are absolutely right about EC classroom teachers being paid more. I teach kindergarten this year and have taught all the way from EC to fifth grade. EC children are a separate entity from all other grades - and as you say, you could have children with severe undiagnosed disabilities to gifted children and everything in between...
I totally agreed with everything in this hub. Including early childhood teachers being paid more. I habe taught everything from PK-6 grade and I found the PK/K to be joyful and LOTS of work.
Your tips on organizing were very useful! I am sharing this jewel!
Thanks for stopping by and commenting....Just like everything else the preK and Kindergarten has it's pros and cons. But I think the importance of a good start in school lies there!
justaskateacher:I am so glad that you found something useful!
Lots of useful suggestions. I love how practical this hub is, and all the pictures! It seems like a lot of these suggestions would work in primary/lower elementary level classroom as well as early childhood.
Thanks Ellebee! And you are correct! These are practical organization tips for any grade up to around third grade.
That makes sense! Typically when I hear early childhood I think Pre-K and Kindergarten, but I forget that in some states the term is commonly used at teh elementary level as well. (It is a bit here in MA, but because programs are licenses either through the Department of Early Education OR Department of Elementary/Secondary Ed I tend to divide them in my mind.
I have taught in three different states and the categories for early childhood, etc. vary from state to state. I even can't qualify to teach some grades from one state to the next! Thanks for stopping by to clarify!
Love the chair pouch idea!
Thanks for stopping by to comment! The chair pouch is really cool to attach to the back of the little one's chairs!
jenubouka Level 8 Commenter 4 months ago
Wow! Awesome hub Rebecca. Great tools and information for all involved in early education. I say all because like you said with the extreme budget cuts, parents should also take a part in helping their child's classroom it they can afford it for all students to learn.
Well Done.