5 Ways to Build a Supportive Preschool Classroom Environment

Creating a safe and welcoming environment for your preschoolers takes time. Like any other person, you have to gain their trust and respect. To do that, you can show them that you care and appreciate them, and that their voice is equally as valuable as yours. Below are a few different strategies you can implement in your classroom to build a supportive space for your students.

Collaborate in setting classroom rules: A great way to include student voice is collaborating with them when setting classroom rules. Get a big piece of chart paper or poster, and start asking students what rules they think are important and should be followed in the classroom. You can start off the discussion by writing the first rule. Students will quickly add on to the discussion, and as they speak, you will annotate. After all the rules have been reviewed, ask the students to “sign” it. For preschool and younger students, you can make it a fun art activity by painting their hands and stamping it on the chart paper. Don’t forget to add visuals that correlate to each rule, especially for younger students!

Give options: Offering options give students a sense of ownership over their own work. When they have choices, they feel that their opinions are respected. It could be as simple as asking students which book they’d like to read for the read-aloud, or which color marker they’d like to color with. A classroom without options will make students feel limited and unable to express their creativity.

Post student work: Walking into a room filled with their own work is a great way to make students feel welcomed and included. Seeing their own work gives them a sense of pride, and it praises them without having to physically say it. 

Get to their level: Physically get to their level when you are talking to individual students. Talking above them will make your students feel small and disregarded. When speaking with your students, kneel down to their level and make eye contact. Actively listen to what they have to say, and acknowledge their feelings. This goes for many activities in the classroom. Sit with them on the rug for play-time or read-alouds. Find a seat at the table with them during art or snack time. Have meaningful conversations and make them feel heard. 

Remain calm: We all know that preschool and daycare classrooms can get hectic. As a teacher, we must learn to remain calm when things get out of control. The moment you lose it with a student or entire class, they immediately lose all trust they have in you. If you feel yourself on the brink of yelling out of frustration, open your classroom door and take a deep breath outside. Trust us, it helps. 

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