Narrative Proposal

Narrative Proposal: Preschool Classroom Bright colors have been shown to be extremely stimulating for children. The proposed preschool will feature a brightly-colored room or rooms that are designed to delight the eyes of children. "The favorite color of most preschool children, up to the age of five, is bright red" (Fischer 2011). Using different bright colors also serves the function of teaching children their colors. Posters with labels for colors, numbers, shapes and other basic concepts help reinforce basic skills and ideas that the children are trying to learn.

Hanging mobiles of colors in different shapes can create visual excitement for young children. Different textures in the rugs, walls, and using different-shaped chairs and tables also can stimulate children's minds. These can provide teaching tools for concepts like 'rough' and 'smooth.' From a practical perspective, they accommodate children of different shapes and sizes, but they also allow children to understand differences of dimension, and begin children on their path to higher-level understanding of spatial relations. The room must be divided into play and classroom sections.

Using standing dividers that fold in and out can be useful, when it is necessary to separate the class, such as when educating children of different ages. One section with chairs and tables can be used for formal instruction, art projects, and snacks. Another area with toys can contain opportunities for unstructured play.

Toys should be selected not simply for their attractiveness and featuring of popular characters like Dora the Explorer (although this can be taken into consideration) but also for the way they encourage children to deploy the use of simple motor skills. Toys that require the manipulation of parts with children's fingers, toys that stimulate the senses with sound and movement and require meaningful interaction and also toys that offer opportunities for creative and cooperative play should be provided.

Toys like dolls can also reinforce basic life skills like tying shoes and dressing independently. Simple musical instruments that are (relatively) non-disruptive may be made available or given to students with permission at hours when noisemaking is permitted. A separate area for artwork may be desirable to facilitate cleanup. Children can have the opportunity to use art supplies, provided they are safe and nontoxic. Creating art also fosters children's development of motor skills.

Age-appropriate artwork can include finger painting and clay work under supervision, along with independent opportunities for drawing, crayoning, and cutting and pasting. Children can be asked to bring a smock to hang in a closet. Ideally, closet space should be provided for all the children's extraneous clothing, particularly in the winter when children wear heavy coats and boots to school. A refrigerator can be useful to store snacks, cold beverages, and healthy foods. Children of preschool age often function best on small, light meals given at frequent intervals.

A cooking area within the school or even within the room (space and fire codes permitting) can provide a source of teaching, as children love to experiment in the kitchen. Children can learn basic math and measuring skills and also learn basic self-care about preparing healthy foods. Of course, if cooking is a component of the classroom, the teacher must check beforehand about allergies.

Some classrooms have a class pet such as a bird, guinea pig, fish or hamster to teach children about the natural world and to give children responsibilities regarding the.