Rethinking the Classroom Landscape: Creating Environments That Connect Young Children, Families, and Communities

An early childhood classroom should reinforce and enhance young children’s sense of belonging and connection to their environment, each other, their families, and their community. Rethinking the Classroom Landscape invites educators and administrators to rethink the traditional classroom, with inspirational examples showing how to weave elements that reflect each centre’s community into the classroom design. Colourful photos show what teachers can do to encourage a sense of community unique to each classroom. Easy-to implement ideas and strategies are based on five guideposts that help educators create early childhood environments that vividly connect children, adults, and the surrounding community. These community environments include connections to past and present, geography, typography, flora, and fauna.