Throughout this course we have been examining and exploring best practices for creating positive learning environments both in terms of physical design and through strong classroom community. Throughout your career in education, there will be curveballs that come your way that may make implementing the ideas we have learned about in this course challenging. In this discussion forum, we will look at some potential challenges to positive learning environments and how you can overcome them.

To prepare,

• Read Chapter 19: Meeting Environmental Challenges.
• Read Small Classroom Organization Ideas: How to Maximize Your Space in 2022Links to an external site..
• Read 3 Tips for Setting Up a Classroom on a BudgetLinks to an external site..
• Read 12 Sanity-Saving Tips for Managing Large Class SizesLinks to an external site..
• Choose one of the following scenarios to apply to the classroom you have been following and designing throughout the course:
  • Scenario A: The classroom space is smaller than you envisioned.
  • Scenario B: The budget for setting up your space is smaller than you were expecting.
  • Scenario C: Three additional students have been added to your class.

For this discussion, you will continue to apply the information to the classroom you chose in previous weeks.

Preschool Classroom

A classroom of 12 students who are 2 to 3 years old. In the room you have one student Maria who comes from a home where Spanish is only spoken. Maria’s parents seem very interested in supporting her, but language is a barrier for them to communicate their needs to you. You also have one child Johnny who has cognitive and physical delays which require him to work with an aid most of the time when he is in your room. Johnny’s mom is very worried about him and would like to schedule regular meetings with you to review his goals and progress throughout the year. Then, you have a 3-year-old boy Michael who is living with a foster family after being moved around a bit. The family is overwhelmed trying to help him manage his behavior and he tends to lash out at other children often.

Initial Post

• Put your chosen scenario (A, B, or C) as the first line of your post. For example, “Scenario A.”
• Describe at least two challenges your scenario could create for your classroom design and classroom community.
• Explain your solutions to overcome these two challenges.
• Discuss how the solutions to your challenges will allow for a diverse, equitable, and inclusive environment.