I absolutely love your channel. I remember in my 3rd year of teaching special Ed preschool. I decided to use all calm blues and greens. I only hung up student work ( no teacher made posters or pictures except for center sign/pictures, daily schedule, times, etc). Initially some said my classroom was “sterile” and at the time it was so hard to explain to parents and other staff I’d my intentions behind it. It absolutely makes sense that if sons thing is visually overstimulating it distracting for us as adults, it definitely will be for children. It is easy to get caught up in having a “cute and pretty” classroom so parents and other teachers think it is nice. However, your point about it being the “children’s” space is so critical. As educators we can take a step back and look at the environment through the children’s eyes. I am loving ALL of your videos.
I definitely agree with you on bringing more neutral colors into the decor of the classroom. I've had it both ways, colorful and more neutral. What I've noticed is that having all the bulletin boards with the same neutral background and borders and all the shelving natural wood tones is that it gives the whole room a cohesive feeling and that in itself can be calming. Different colors for everything everywhere tended to make my mind and my eyes fly from one thing to another constantly, which is what happens with the kids too. I didn't even realize this until I switched over to all neutrals as my "base" for all the decor and it just seemed to take the busyness down several notches. My walls are now a warm white as well, and most of my color comes from the children's artwork. There is nothing overstimulating to keep your eyes and your brain constantly busy and children seem to naturally pull their focus in. I used to use baskets for toys but they are too easily destroyed so I have started using the clear bins vs. colored. It can be an expensive transition but not bad if you do it a little at a time. A less expensive alternative than buying new bins is to cover those colored ones on the outside with contact paper that looks like wood or basket weave. You can also create a "nature area" in your room pretty much for free just by adding a small table for 2 or 3 children at a time to explore sticks, rocks, moss, bird nests, dead insects in jars, wood slices, etc. This is a very calming center and my kids love it. I don't think this is just a trend, it is backed by a lot of research and hopefully more teachers will begin to try it and see the difference it makes themselves. As teachers we have to be willing to change and learn and grow as well!
I was just explaining to my director how colors play a big part I just started a pre-K class and our classroom is red yellow just a lot of bright colors and the children are absolutely running around and screaming and yelling. although it is my first day I was like wow. But thank you so much for this video so now I can share it with her so that she can better understand how colors play a part in the children’s behavior.
I'm in my late 30s probably undiagnosed ADHD or something similar.....I can't do tons of colors, it scrambles my brain. Same with going into stoes that have too much going on. Can't think straight if that makes sense. I've seen classrooms where you feel like you're walking into a rave.
Thank you for having this TH-cam channel! I'm seriously going to take 50 of your tried and true ideas! And I agree, I have been wanting to have a cool down area that feels like an oasis (but also the classroom wanting it to feel cool). Blue and sea green always scream tranquil so I figured those are good. If I have the option, I'm trying to choose a neutral color or Tiffany blue. I never thought about clear bins though. I also never thought about having patterned, crazy colored bulletin board boarders. Less is more! When I was at Hobby Lobby, I felt very calm in some of the aisles! Particularly, the wood aisle, neutral colors, natural element. Also at Hobby Lobby I found a banana stretchy fidget filled with 100% sand. I'm just not a fan of the orbi filled ones. Sand is much easier to clean up, if it breaks.
Pre-K state requirements where I live mandate Alphabet, shapes, colors, numbers to be posted on walls, in addition to calendar, weather, visual schedule, not to mention 2 bulletin boards with administrative items used once in a while by teachers and checked by state (schedule-I know mine) class roster (month in, I am confident) We also are mandated to have birthday board, child's work bbd, monthly theme bulletin board, and 6 posters of people, food, plants, animals and landmarks also mandated by state. I also have a room theme (required). Nothing can be taken down. My classroom belongs neither to the children or me, but to the state and its mandates.
Are you referring to the childcare licensing laws in your state? My perspective is always that of a public Pre-Kindergarten teacher in a school system. Public schools would never mandate birthday boards, room themes, or much of what you described - but if there is a state that does any of this, I would love to know which one!
Most of the schools I work for changes the classroom environment every semester. But sometimes just flipping the furniture around to another corner, of space created less fights. of even painting the side of the furniture changes things.
Love it! I have a big letter rug that I was thinking of using in my classroom. The letters are large enough for the kids to each have their personal space when doing circle time. But it is quite bright with all the different colors. Do you think that would be ok to use?
this is good news for me cuz I hate decorating. haha. I have bare walls in my classroom and for a while I feel like an "uncreative" teacher (not true, btw, I am super creative) because I have no idea what to put on walls that I procrastinate and ended up with almost nothing on them for a quarter into the year. then I just started putting up student work cuz I "needed" to put something on them. little did I know it was research based and not because I'm overwhelmed decorating my classroom and just feeling lazy putting up all the things.
Any practical ideas to deal with an abundance of bright natural light? We have huge windows, which are lovely, but our space is so bright because if it
I absolutely love your channel. I remember in my 3rd year of teaching special Ed preschool. I decided to use all calm blues and greens. I only hung up student work ( no teacher made posters or pictures except for center sign/pictures, daily schedule, times, etc). Initially some said my classroom was “sterile” and at the time it was so hard to explain to parents and other staff I’d my intentions behind it. It absolutely makes sense that if sons thing is visually overstimulating it distracting for us as adults, it definitely will be for children. It is easy to get caught up in having a “cute and pretty” classroom so parents and other teachers think it is nice. However, your point about it being the “children’s” space is so critical. As educators we can take a step back and look at the environment through the children’s eyes.
I am loving ALL of your videos.
I definitely agree with you on bringing more neutral colors into the decor of the classroom. I've had it both ways, colorful and more neutral. What I've noticed is that having all the bulletin boards with the same neutral background and borders and all the shelving natural wood tones is that it gives the whole room a cohesive feeling and that in itself can be calming. Different colors for everything everywhere tended to make my mind and my eyes fly from one thing to another constantly, which is what happens with the kids too. I didn't even realize this until I switched over to all neutrals as my "base" for all the decor and it just seemed to take the busyness down several notches. My walls are now a warm white as well, and most of my color comes from the children's artwork. There is nothing overstimulating to keep your eyes and your brain constantly busy and children seem to naturally pull their focus in. I used to use baskets for toys but they are too easily destroyed so I have started using the clear bins vs. colored. It can be an expensive transition but not bad if you do it a little at a time. A less expensive alternative than buying new bins is to cover those colored ones on the outside with contact paper that looks like wood or basket weave. You can also create a "nature area" in your room pretty much for free just by adding a small table for 2 or 3 children at a time to explore sticks, rocks, moss, bird nests, dead insects in jars, wood slices, etc. This is a very calming center and my kids love it.
I don't think this is just a trend, it is backed by a lot of research and hopefully more teachers will begin to try it and see the difference it makes themselves. As teachers we have to be willing to change and learn and grow as well!
Absolutely! 100%
I see this in the Montessori classrooms. They use less decor and natural tools.
I was just explaining to my director how colors play a big part I just started a pre-K class and our classroom is red yellow just a lot of bright colors and the children are absolutely running around and screaming and yelling. although it is my first day I was like wow. But thank you so much for this video so now I can share it with her so that she can better understand how colors play a part in the children’s behavior.
Thanks Vanessa, the use of adecuate colours will improve the behavior in the classroom. Thanks🙂🙂
I'm in my late 30s probably undiagnosed ADHD or something similar.....I can't do tons of colors, it scrambles my brain. Same with going into stoes that have too much going on. Can't think straight if that makes sense. I've seen classrooms where you feel like you're walking into a rave.
"going into a rave" - excellent description!
Thank you for having this TH-cam channel! I'm seriously going to take 50 of your tried and true ideas! And I agree, I have been wanting to have a cool down area that feels like an oasis (but also the classroom wanting it to feel cool). Blue and sea green always scream tranquil so I figured those are good. If I have the option, I'm trying to choose a neutral color or Tiffany blue. I never thought about clear bins though. I also never thought about having patterned, crazy colored bulletin board boarders. Less is more! When I was at Hobby Lobby, I felt very calm in some of the aisles! Particularly, the wood aisle, neutral colors, natural element. Also at Hobby Lobby I found a banana stretchy fidget filled with 100% sand. I'm just not a fan of the orbi filled ones. Sand is much easier to clean up, if it breaks.
Thank you so much! God bless you! 😍🇵🇭
Early childhood facts start at 5:10
Lol. I literally found this video after I spend $50 on rainbow decor!!!!
Pre-K state requirements where I live mandate Alphabet, shapes, colors, numbers to be posted on walls, in addition to calendar, weather, visual schedule, not to mention 2 bulletin boards with administrative items used once in a while by teachers and checked by state (schedule-I know mine) class roster (month in, I am confident) We also are mandated to have birthday board, child's work bbd, monthly theme bulletin board, and 6 posters of people, food, plants, animals and landmarks also mandated by state. I also have a room theme (required). Nothing can be taken down. My classroom belongs neither to the children or me, but to the state and its mandates.
Are you referring to the childcare licensing laws in your state? My perspective is always that of a public Pre-Kindergarten teacher in a school system. Public schools would never mandate birthday boards, room themes, or much of what you described - but if there is a state that does any of this, I would love to know which one!
@@PreKPagesvideos Yes, childcare licensing. Teach in privately owned multi-site Pre-K.
Most of the schools I work for changes the classroom environment every semester. But sometimes just flipping the furniture around to another corner, of space created less fights. of even painting the side of the furniture changes things.
Lights start at 9:04
Natural elements: 10:21
Objections: 14:33
Love it! I have a big letter rug that I was thinking of using in my classroom. The letters are large enough for the kids to each have their personal space when doing circle time. But it is quite bright with all the different colors. Do you think that would be ok to use?
Any rug is better than no rug.
this is good news for me cuz I hate decorating. haha. I have bare walls in my classroom and for a while I feel like an "uncreative" teacher (not true, btw, I am super creative) because I have no idea what to put on walls that I procrastinate and ended up with almost nothing on them for a quarter into the year. then I just started putting up student work cuz I "needed" to put something on them. little did I know it was research based and not because I'm overwhelmed decorating my classroom and just feeling lazy putting up all the things.
Very interesting
Any practical ideas to deal with an abundance of bright natural light? We have huge windows, which are lovely, but our space is so bright because if it
Colors starts at 6:35
Thanks for the feedback, I'll let the production team know.
just an off topic question: why does your camera keep shooting in and out, up close and far back, with that weird sound effect?
You'd have to ask the production team. If you prefer to listen to the podcast without any distractions you can find it on your favorite podcast app.