Application: Envisioning a Preschool Classroom Alive with Learning

For your Application Assignments, you envisioned the optimal physical environment in a preschool setting, one that would also encourage, support, and guide children's social/emotional development. You will be continuing to expand on this vision by thinking about components that foster children's language and literacy development. Before you begin, think about what you have learned with regard to:

• Early Literacy including

o Components of Literacy
o Conversation
o Acceptance
o Experience
o Children's Literature
o Print-Rich Environments
o Writing Centers

• Group Time

Part 1: Visualize

Again, close your eyes. Visualize a preschool environment that truly encourages, supports, and guides children's language, and literacy development and learning. Let your mind travel around the room. What does it look like? What does it feel like? How does it sound? What are the children doing? How are they interacting with each other, the materials, the space? What kind of learning experiences are they involved in? What are the adults doing? What opportunities do children have to explore books, use print in a variety of ways, incorporate literacy materials meaningfully in their play? If a visitor walked in, how would he or she describe the culture, energy, and learning in this setting?

Part 2: Brainstorm

Write down at least 20 words or phrases that describe a quality environment that fosters children's language, and literacy development.

Part 3: Revisit and Reflect

Review the description that you wrote of a quality physical environment for preschoolers; one that also fosters and guides children's social/emotional development. Consider how you would add to or amend your description to describe an environment that also fosters children's language, and literacy development and learning.

Part 4: Describe

Amend or add to your description of the optimal preschool environment that you described for your Week 3 Application Assignment to include your vision of the components that foster language and literacy development and learning. Include each of the following areas:

• Classroom arrangement and activity/interest areas
• Classroom atmosphere
• Learning experiences available
• Materials accessible
• Types of interactions supported

Note: Be sure to cite the Learning Resources to substantiate your thinking.

Assignment length: Approximately 4 pages.