Evaluating Your Indoor Environment Are there large spaces for the whole group to meet comfortably? Are there medium spaces for small-group instruction? If there is a team teaching, are these far enough apart to reduce interference? Are there small spaces for two or three children to work in together? Are there quiet spaces for individual tasks? Does table space and the room arrangement support cooperation? Chapter 5 Exploring Your Role, Jalongo & Isenberg, Pearson Education, Inc., 2004.

Are there clear pathways and traffic lanes? Are there movable walls, furniture, or bookcases dividing interest centers? Are the interest areas clearly labeled and defined (e.g., dramatic play centers, writing centers)? Are there clear pathways and traffic lanes? Is there a quiet space for children to work or be alone? Are the furnishings and materials appropriate for learning tasks that are accessible to children? Is the children’s work attractively displayed at eye level throughout the classroom? Chapter 5 Exploring Your Role, Jalongo & Isenberg, Pearson Education, Inc., 2004.

Are there attractive, up-to-date bulletin boards and pictures? Are there visual images that portray a range of roles and cultural backgrounds? Are there soft spaces with rugs, pillows, or cushions that make the room warm and inviting? Is safety considered in available supplies and equipment? Are there fresh, pleasant smells and living plants? Are there positively worded signs and messages? Chapter 5 Exploring Your Role, Jalongo & Isenberg, Pearson Education, Inc., 2004.

Is the space flexible and does it allow for expansion? Are there diverse textures and shapes and natural materials that invite children to explore and discover? Is the space flexible and does it allow for expansion? Is there an ample supply of open-ended materials to challenge thinking and prevent frustration? Are the children’s lives and interests represented throughout the room with work samples, photographs, sketches, and cultural artifacts? Chapter 5 Exploring Your Role, Jalongo & Isenberg, Pearson Education, Inc., 2004.