Where the MAGIC Happens..

CAUTION LEARNING HAPPENS HERE!! Let's take a peek into our classroom here at Play Matters Childcare. Keep in mind these pictures that have captured the overall classroom set-up were taken in 2013 when teacher Naomi had first opened up shop. I will be posting updated pictures of our current "new & improved" classroom once we finish unpacking as we just bought our first house in North Highlands (Sacramento, Ca. area) and I haven't had a chance to decide on an overall layout.

Here you can see a view from the front entering the class. 

A view of our awesome Ikea shelving & some props.

Puzzles, magnetic tools, discovery box, lacing shoe, pound it toys, scale, tactile cards, marble run etc.

Magnetic color maze, magna wands, magnetic horseshoes, scale, mannequin, shape sorter, tactile cards.

This is where Circle Time & Story Time happens.

Learning about: colors, shapes, letters. numbers, daily schedule, & our weather.

Teacher Naomi designed this "Artist Corner" as a creative space for the littles to express themselves in an effortless way & feel like they are also being a little rebellious at the same time. Let's face it, if we didn't give them a dedicated space to color on the walls, they would likely find a space of their own and get themselves in some trouble.

Prior to entering the artist corner, you can grab a smock and start being creative. The board displays: teacher wish list, favorite child-related articles, daily in depth schedule, and an "about me" document that gives parents an idea of who Teacher Naomi really is and what she is all about.

Reading Nooks are very important to have in a classroom because you will often find that children will gravitate toward this center when they may be in search for some solitude or comfort. I always like to have a soft rug, floor pillows, cozy throw blanket, and a few comfortable child-sized chairs in this space.

Book ledges are a great way to display the book's of the month that you may be using at circle time. These books often tend to be the "nicer" versions that we don't want babies chewing on or toddlers ripping pages out of.

Add a few wicker baskets full of board books into your library or reading nook and allow the students to explore them freely. Alternate books often so that the children don't grow tired of the SAME ones.

Daily Schedule: very important to add pictures of your actual students in these activities so that they know what is coming next and can anticipate the next transition. You would be shocked at how this helps!

Dramatic Play Center: here you can see our grocery store, workshop, and kitchen.

How much fun are these! Animal stables & a magical fairy/gnome tree house.

Yes, I am a little obsessed with creating many different areas for my students to use open-ended play props instead of handing them a doll that talks and poops. This is QUALITY play at its BEST!

Waldorf doll, rainbow stacker, tree stacker, & hidden fairies! Oh my!

Add these stacking toys to either your dramatic play area or your block zone to get the most out of them.

Open Ended Play! Rhythm scarves & felt shapes.

Animal Stable.

What little boy wouldn't want to use cause & effect when exploring gravity, speed, & friction?

We have such a collection of wooden trains, planes & cars that it's kind of ridiculous now!

Pottery Barn construction site building set!

It's so great to have been able to collect many different block sets. This allows my students to really create beautiful towers, towns, all sorts of stuff. Different blocks are good for different things.

Colorful Window Blocks.

More rainbow stackers.

Yes, you caught me! Teacher Naomi makes her own play dough. I actually make a new batch for each season and it works well pertaining to our ever-changing themes.

Fall/Halloween Inspired.

Sensory Play! We explore different textures, colors, & smells through this open-ended activity. 

Shaving cream mixture.

Ocean Sensory bin: blue colored rice, pom poms, ocean animals & pipe cleaners.

Sensory bottles! As mentioned above we like to relate our sensory, art, reading back to a weekly/monthly theme. These bottles are a great addition to your science & discovery zone.

Music & Movement is practiced daily. Children will learn how to move their body in new ways, response to sound, language & literacy through listening/repeating the words in a song, and are allowed to be loud and make some noise.