EDU1203

Assessment
1
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My classroom design
Designing a classroom and having several learning centers are very important for teachers, where
they can create a learner-centered classroom, which makes the classroom more active and more
fun, the best available knowledge about learning and how it occurs and about teaching practices
that are most effective in promoting the highest levels of motivation, learning and achievement
for all learners (McCombs, Whisler,1997, p.9). Learning centers help to create supportive
environment in the classroom, which leads to speed up the students social, emotional, physical
and cognitive development (Classroom Environment, 2011). In addition to what I observed in the
class that Im practicing in, that each child has his/her own learning style.
I designed my own classroom with floor planner website. I created several centers in my
classroom such as meeting center, literacy center, science center, role play center, math center,
independence center and extra time center. I keen to have space between the centers, the
children move freely between areas and are encouraged to manage their own time, making
decisions about their own learning (Whitebeard, 1996, p.30). I will go deeply through each
center and describe it.

Figure (1.1) Kindergarten classroom plan.

Top left-hand corner, I have two centers in this corner, the first center is the Science Center.
Submitted by: Mariam Mohamed Alwahedi, H00325141.
March 2016.

Submitted on: 20th

EDU1203

Assessment
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The Science Center is very useful, because it can help my students in science lessons. For
example, there are many types of plants to learn the life cycle of a plant, types of rocks,
thermometer whereas they may learn how to use the scientific devices. I put the aquarium close
to the teacher desk to avoid accidents. Also the students might learn from it how to deal with
each type of animals.
The second center here is the Role Play Center, it has all the materials and objects to represent
childrens thoughts, where is in piagets theory called Symbolic. For example, they play the
role of mommy, daddy, doctor, chief, restaurant customers and many other characters
(Cherry, 2016). I think allows children to understand and make sense of the real world and their
personal experiences in it.
Top right-hand corner, in this corner I placed teacher table and the Meeting Center where the
teacher meets with his/her students. In my opinion, Meeting Center is very important and helpful
for the teachers while they are teaching lessons and explaining activities. It allows the teacher to
have a full picture of his\her students, and what the are doing. From what I observed in the class,
students learn propriety and arrangement by sticking their names on the carpet as my mentor
teacher did and it allows them to listen carefully.
In the bottom left-hand corner is the Literacy Center where there are different types of books,
several levels of stories, magazines, words games and iPad. "Well -implemented literacy centers
help teachers balance their time and vary activities throughout the school day, week and year,
providing meaningful, confidence-building activities geared to help students at all literacy
levels" (Literacy Centers in the Classroom, 2009). In my opinion, literacy center gives the
students an opportunity to practice the four important skills of listening, reading, writing and
speaking. It also focuses on increasing vocabulary. Literacy center enables the students to
develop a liking for reading and writing and builds up their confidence in the use of a language.
Bottom right-hand corner, learning supplies are in this area. It has a cabinet and a shelf. Inside
there are some games like puzzles, picture cards, some materials for designing their works such
as glitters and stickers, colors and white papers, scissors and gules, pencils and colors pencils and
some snacks for movies time or if one of the students forgets his/her launch. Learning supplies
Submitted by: Mariam Mohamed Alwahedi, H00325141.
March 2016.

Submitted on: 20th

EDU1203

Assessment
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center is very useful for the teacher and the students because it has all the materials they will
need for class activities. In my opinion, students will learn how to be organized by arranging and
putting things back in their right places.
In the middle of the classroom, I have 3 centers. First, Independence area where the students do
their activities, do some researches and writings. It allows children to be self-disciplined by
exploring in their own way and intentionally directing their own learning (Magnuson, 2010). For
example, students learn to be independent, cautious while they are using scissors.
Secondly, Math Center. "children in the early childhood years need to develop math process
skills including problem solving, reasoning, communicating, connecting, and representing
(Bullard, 2010).
Thirdly, extra center here where the students can do what ever they want to do and be free. It
allows children to use up excess energy. I think in extra area children learn to choose and know
their strength points in their skills and find their talents.
In my opinion, all the centers are linked together and every center develop specific skills in
children to help them use it in other centers. The Literacy Centers in my judgment is the
supporter of role play center, because children learn many skills such as reading, writing, new
vocabs there and practice it in the role play center.
In the other hand children learn the mathematical calculation in the role play and they practice it
for the math center not for the literacy center.
Finally, designing classroom for the children is very important specially for kindergarten
children, because I think they should have strong base in all skills, have positive behavior and
good personality which will continue with them in their academic and social life.

Reference
Submitted by: Mariam Mohamed Alwahedi, H00325141.
March 2016.

Submitted on: 20th

EDU1203

Assessment
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Bullrd.J. (2010). How the math center enhances childrens development.

Retrieved from:
http://www.education.com/reference/article/math-center-enhancechildren-development/
Cherry.K. (2016). Piagets stages of cognitive development. Retrieved from:
http://psychology.about.com/od/piagetstheory/p/preoperational.htm
Classroom Environment. (2011). Firefly Partners. Retrieved from:
http://www.tkcalifornia.org/teaching-tools/classroominstructional-planning/classroom-environment.html
Figure (1.1) Kindergarten classroom plan.
http://www.floorplanner.com/projects/38337294school/edit#details
Literacy centers in the classroom. (2009). Retrieved from:
https://www.trcabc.com/blogs/teacher-resources/8570477-literacycenters-in-the-classroom
Magnuson.A. (2010). Learning Centers, Part 1: Why They're Important.
Retrieved from:
http://www.scholastic.com/teachers/classroom_solutions/2010/09/learni
ng-centers-part-1-why-theyre-important
McCombs. B, Whisler.J. (1997) The learner-centered classroom and school.
San

Francisco. Jossey-Bass Publishers. P.9.

Whitebread.D. (1996) Teaching and learning the early years. London and
New York. Routledge. P.30.
Submitted by: Mariam Mohamed Alwahedi, H00325141.
March 2016.

Submitted on: 20th

EDU1203

Assessment
5
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Submitted by: Mariam Mohamed Alwahedi, H00325141.

March 2016.

Submitted on: 20th