Environment Rating Scale Workshop
Help Support to How Does Learning Happen
Engagment
Belonging
Expression
Well-Being
Help identifying where children can be better included in the classroom
show ways and options of things to add to encourage more ways to express themselves
guidance on interactions and educator expression to better support the classroom
supports making classroom functional, which gives educator more time to interact and engage with children
helps to understand what engagement can look like in a classroom
can be used to help change a play area to better encourage use and engagement
encourages following of children's interests and ideas
supports displaying children and their work at their level to encourage their ownership of the space
outlines ways to encourage independence in children, such as door knobs they can actually reach and turn or shelf materials at their level
has a section on educator well-being and necessities, such as planning time, breaks, and available staff rooms.
offers guidelines on interacting with parents, which can build a supportive home to school connection
encourages diversity in images and materials to ensure all children feel represented within the room
Goals for Quality Improvement
Better Variety and Inclusion within the classroom
More materials that celebrate children in all the shapes and colours they come
People/doll toys in many colours
with different cultural dress
different features (not just the same doll in different colours)
displays of families
differing cultures
different family make ups
displayed prominently, not tucked in a corner
variety of occupations
materials celebrating differing abilities
doll wheelchairs/mobility devices, missing limbs, hearing aids
books that show characters with disabilities on adventures and being the main characters of their stories
inclusive materials even when children in the room do not require them
braille books
room to move/space for mobility devices
sensory boards, then/after charts; items we adults would typically only use when we have children with autism
Room for continuous growth
Always places to improve, and a guide to help you find new solutions
encouragement to let your environment help you lead, and learn new ways to interpret how you can the children see and feel within it
not to seek the highest possible score, but to understand better where you may be struggling and better put a name to what resources and support you need
Assist with continuous development
Offers guidance
an opportunity to assess when you have a new group and see new ways to support, change the room, and better learn with them
Opportunity to find which areas of the room need growth and seek that growth yourself
Independence
can be accessed and done on your own or with support of a team or supervisor, thus encouraging us to find our own solutions or to seek community
Research based
continuously updated and supported with new research, making it easier to find and understand the current knowledge
the academic research is done already, making the tool a way to get over the academic barrier placed on much research via language use and paywalls on research papers
Improving Leadership Skills
Building Confidence
an opportunity to build knowledge, making the educator more confident in their decisions
Accessible tool - language is clear and ideas conveyed in a concise manner, allowing the educator to better learn how to communicate ideas and feel comfortable expressing them
Building community
Among children - the tool promotes ways to empower children in their learning, their environment, and in their relationships, which can build connections with the educator
Among Coworkers - gives educators a project to rally around, share ideas and help build a classroom philosophy together, thus creating a space for them to feel competent and welcomed as well
Respect for others
Opportunity to see and interpret different ideas under a common goal to do better for children.
Offers a way to encourage and lead children, and in turn other educators
A section focuses on interaction with families and greetings, acknowledging the importance of the family and building a positive and respectful relationship together
