Building a Preschool
Community
By Francisco Rodriguez
To all parents at Westside Head Start
The key to creating an inviting preschool
environment is to form a sense of belonging,
friendship and community. The goal is to establish
a classroom that practices respect, discipline and
responsibility. We can accomplish this by a series
of classroom activities, routines, and creating a
supportive environment. The focus of the
newsletter is to discuss classroom activities and
provide you with helpful tips that can lead to a
harmonious classroom environment.
TABLE OF CONTENTS
How to form a sense of belonging
Importance of Routines
Classroom Activities
Group Problem Solving
Clean up Time
Describing Childrens Actions
Creating a Supportive Environment
March 18, 2017
FORMING A SENSE OF BELONGING
Forming a sense of belonging is vital to a childs
social and cognitive development. It is our duty
as teachers and parents to create an atmosphere
that is welcoming from the moment children
arrive in the classroom. By incorporating children
in classroom activities, routines, and providing
them with responsibilities we will achieve the
desired outcome. Addressing children by their
names allows them to feel part of the classroom
and it helps them remember other childrens
names.
IMPORTANCE OF ROUTINES
Establishing routines at home and at school are
fundamental in helping children understand what
is next and how they can prepare. Through
greeting times and group activities children are
informed on what is happening and it familiarizes
them with the daily schedule. It can facilitate
transitions and participation in daily activities.
Using routines properly will lead towards that
sense of community in the classroom. Children
will be aware of events and awareness of others.
CLASSROOM ACTIVITIES
Through classroom activities such as large group
time and circle time children create classroom
community. When children are involved in
classroom activities they practice being leaders
and also how to properly follow directions.
Children observe the teacher and other children
and learn through observing and communicating.
In West Side Head Start after circle time children
go through a routine where they are assigned
jobs and they have to demonstrate responsibility
and the ability to successfully complete the job.
The way the jobs are picked are from a basket
with childrens names on a clip. A child picks at
random and calls his classmates name out.
Through cooperative games children practice
cooperation and communication which are
fundemntal to a gool classroom Community. music
and movment games such as musical chairs
incourgage cooperation and participation.
Clean up Time
Clean up time offers children the opportunity to
demonstrate responsibility and the importance of
taking care of materials. Clean up time is
something that should be encouraged at school
and home and its another factor that builds
towards a good classroom community. Children
work together problem solve and pass on
information in order to complete the task which is
to transition to the next routine.

DESCRIBING CHILDRENS ACTIONS SCHOLARLY ARTICLE

As parents and teachers, we need to address
childrens actions for a multitude of reasons. One
of them is to acknowledge when children are
doing a good job or to correct a specific action.
Describing childrens actions also help them find
meaning to a job or task. Through this they will
learn more in depth on sharing responsibilities.
CREATING A SUPPORTIVE ENVIORNMENT
Classroom Hints: Building a Preschool
Community by Sue Gainsley
WEBSITE LINK
file:///C:/Users/frank/Desktop/personal%20care%
20and%20routines/Preschool%20Community%2
0Personal%20Care%20Routines.pdf

As teachers and parents are duty is to create an

atmosphere that promotes kindness and
encouragement. Children learn to listen to others
and solve problems verbally. We need to model
actions and interactions so children know how to
solve problems and communicate with others.
Through building positive relationships, making
friends, and participating we will build towards a
inviting classroom community.