Inspiring Spaces for Young Children

by Jessica DeViney, Sandra Duncan, Sara Harris

The classroom environment is an essential component for maximizing learning experiences for young children.  Inspiring Spaces for Young Children invites teachers to enhance children s educational environment in a beautiful way by emphasizing aesthetic environmental qualities that are often overlooked in early childhood classrooms, such as nature, color, furnishings, textures, displays, lighting, and focal points.  Step-by-step instructions and lush photographs take educators through the process of transforming ordinary classrooms into creative, beautiful learning spaces, providing children with an environment where they can learn and grow.   With easy-to-implement ideas that incorporate nature, children s artwork, and everyday classroom materials, the photographs and ideas in this book promote creativity, learning, and simple beauty.

Genres: Education, Nonfiction

240 pages, Paperback

First published August 1, 2010

Reviews

[Ardyth · Rating 2 out of 5]

I bought this in hopes of some guidance and inspiration for setting up my home "preschool" area aka play zone.

The photos and (brief!) text provide inspiration, but many of the samples seemed too cluttered and chaotic to me. I'm all for loose parts and environments that recall / reflect nature's beauty, but there's a method to nature's madness and as some point too much is just too much.

Maybe I have spent too much time looking at zen interiors and Montessori...but I don't think so. My son is more pleasant -- very playful, but pleasant -- when the environment is calm but warm.

So, I wouldn't model an entire classroom on any of these photos, but the principles certainly are easily adapted to suit my family and space. My copy is dogeared so I can easily find the photos that really spoke to me.

Certainly worth the time for parent or teacher if your space feels cold, uninviting or overloaded with plastic.

[Barbara · Rating 5 out of 5]

Absolutely loved this book!! It's not so wordy, but has some worthy statements and is filled with amazingly gorgeous images that definitely "get the wheels turning".

[Sharon Adams · Rating 4 out of 5]

Wish it had more pictures

[Larra Olson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great quick read with great pictures and principles that will speak to my new gig of teaching TK. Priceless kickstarter for me!

[Susan · Rating 4 out of 5]

It is geared towards the classroom, but it is very inspiring and filled with beautiful pictures. I'm still trying to figure out ways I can incorporate some of the ideas in the library.