Designing an Inclusive Early Childhood Classroom Series - The Physical Environment with Beth Poss

The basis of every early childhood program is the learning environment; the physical, social, and temporal spaces where children will interact, grow and develop. This series will highlight best practices in early childhood settings, for a diverse population including students with and without disabilities, that provide for the active, inclusive, and meaningful participation of ALL young learners. We will focus on how to leverage accessible resources in any universally designed early childhood setting, including the creation of visual supports, resources for communication, and engaging, accessible curriculum materials.

The Physical Environment includes the selection and physical layout of space, arrangement of furniture and resources, as well as lighting and floor coverings, and the creation and organization of learning centers. In this session, we will examine how educators can structure their physical environment to promote inclusive learning opportunities for students with disabilities. Viewers will learn how to critically examine their current classroom and consider modifications that they can make to the physical environment that supports play, communication, and learning.

Participants will be able to
1. Define the 3 environmental components of a Universally Designed for Learning early childhood classroom
2. Reflect on 4 changes that they can make in their current classroom to create a more Universally Designed for Learning environment
3. Identify at least 4 powerful instructional practices with students in an inclusive early childhood setting