Guest Author - Jeanette Norman

The classroom of a preschool can be a chaotic but organized and fun environment. Anyone who has worked with preschoolers knows they are a busy bunch of people. When setting up your classroom, it is important to remember the theory of Maria Montessori that a preschool classroom should be child sized. Shelving should be at a level that they can see every shelf, tables and chairs low for them to be comfortable, etc.

The area of a preschool classroom is divided into smaller sections sometimes called centers. Normally there are seven basic centers: art, blocks, dramatic play, science, library, manipulative, and music. In my classroom, I included a writing area in the library. Children need to understand though there is no writing in books though. One center I worked in made a huge large muscle/playground indoors. I never had a music area. If music was a focus of an activity, it was done during circle time. So I had an area set aside for our group time that included a calendar, weather chart, and an attendance chart.

Some areas will need lots of space for play like dramatic play and blocks. Then there are areas that may require a quieter atmosphere for learning such as manipulatives and library. I drew a sample layout for you to have as a visual for these articles.

Even though most preschoolers can’t read any words when first starting preschool, it is important to label everything. In the manipulative/math area, if you are providing beads to string or puzzles to used, label the bead container with words and a picture of what belongs in that container and place a picture and word label on the shelf where they are to be stored. This will encourage the children to clean up after themselves and take pride that they know where things belong in their environment.

When sectioning your room to centers, make sure you take time out to sit in the spaces and have a look around. If you are with children at the science table, will you be able to see the children across the room in the block center? Can children move from one activity to another without interfering with other children’s work?

Group quiet centers with quiet centers and busy, noisier centers with the same. Clearly mark boundaries of centers with shelving units. Colored duct tape could be used as well. This prevents blocks from the block area migrating to the art center for a color makeover.

Signs hanging above a center or on the back of a centers shelf will help the children know what activities are done where. Above the writing center, a mobile made of a sign that says “Writing Center” with pencil, a small square of paper, and crayon shapes would be a decorative touch.

In the next month, maybe a little longer, I will be posting articles that will highlight each center. If you have any suggestions or questions, please e-mail me!

Printable Center Signs