Sprinkle fairy dust where it matters – on your environment
I don’t have a magic wand.
Like most teachers, I wish that I did. I would wave my magic wand, sprinkle a little fairy dust, and all those challenging behaviors would just disappear.
But teaching doesn’t work like that. There is no easy fix.
The Magic Wand We All Wish For
When I visited Maryann’s classroom, I watched a group of boys wrestling in the block corner. They were each trying to build something, but kept stepping on each other, knocking over towers, and climbing over each other to reach the shelf.
No one was in the art center. A few children were in dramatic play, and the rest of the class was scattered in other centers.
Maryann complained, “It’s like this every day. I don’t know how to keep them from fighting over the blocks.”
It’s Not the Children – It’s the Space
This is where that magic wand comes in handy!
But, instead of a magic wand, I used my power of observation. Here’s what I noted:
- Blocks are a big attraction
- The art center is not interesting
- Some of the other centers could be more inviting
It wasn’t the children that were the problem.
It was the environment.
The Questions That Changed Everything
Before I could wave my magic wand, I asked Maryann a few questions.
- How many children are allowed to play in blocks?
- How many children typically want to play in blocks?
- What about the art center?
- Why do you think no one is playing in art?
- What is attracting children to play in other centers?
- What is working for you?
- What isn’t working, besides blocks?
After we talked through these questions, I pulled out my Mary Poppins bag and got to work!
The Mary Poppins Solutions
Problem: the block corner is cramped, leading to children climbing over each other
Magic wand: make the block corner larger. Move the shelving, open up space on the floor so children can easily reach the block shelf and find space to spread out on the floor. Make the space large enough so 6-8 children can easily play without climbing over each other.
Problem: the art center is boring
Magic wand: make the art center smaller, allowing for a larger block corner, and add more collage materials – spangles, buttons, feathers, natural materials, and other art supplies like stamps and stickers that children can use independently.
Problem: the sensory table is closed
Magic wand: reposition the sensory table so it is not next to the block corner, add materials to the table that do not require constant, direct adult supervision. Consider adding cars and street signs to attract some of the block builders.
Problem: the other centers are not inviting enough
Magic wand: identify what types of materials and games interest the children. Add things like lotto games, bear counters, and Magnatiles to the appropriate centers. Rotate materials. Move some of the building materials into the math/science center to attract more block builders.
The Transformation
This took us about an hour to move the furniture and reconfigure the space. Maryann took more time to reorganize the materials in each center.
When I checked in with Maryann about a week later, she was thrilled to report that there were no more scuffles in the block corner. The art center was finally getting use, and children were playing longer in all the other centers.
Takeaway: Where to Sprinkle Your Fairy Dust
Moral of the story: Before you wave your magic wand to “fix” behaviors, take a hard look at your environment and how children are using the space.
Only then will you know where to sprinkle fairy dust and find your Mary Poppins solution.
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