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Interest Areas/Learning Centers
Interest Areas
or "Learning Centers" are specific places in a preschool room's
physical environment where specific activities can be arranged for the
children to explore.
"A classroom for young
children benefits from having clearly defined, well-equipped interest
areas that arranged to promote independence, foster decision making, and
encourage involvement." -Creative Curriculum for Early Childhood
The Creative Curriculum for Preschool
The Creative Curriculum for Family Child Care
The Creative Curriculum by Diane Trister Dodge has
been a huge influence in the creation of this website and the activities
and information developed within. I highly recommend these books to anyone
working with young children. I believe they embrace a philosophy about
early childhood education that respects and acknowledges all children and
their learning.
The
following Interest Areas contain ideas for development of each
area and include different types of "learning centers" that
could be utilized in each area.
Literacy
With
the new focus on literacy development in early childhood, we have added
several center examples to each area that illustrate how literacy
learning can be supported in every center in your classroom!
Other center ideas are listed as well for you to develop in your own
program.
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