It has always been a dream of mine to open up my own preschool. I have a clear vision of what that early childhood center would look like and how I would run it. It is essential that the environment is warm and welcoming for the children and the families. I would create an enviroment that is welcoming and safe for all children. When I taught in Holland I would always start the year with a photo wall of the children's families. By having a framed family portrait the children can incorporate a bit of home to school and also have the comfort of the familiarity (Derman-Sparks, Olsen Edwards, 2010).  The children like to have a sense of belonging and by having laminated pictures of their faces, I would use that as a daily register. Children need routine and structure and to have a daily schedule visible to the children is important. It should be pictures or photos of the activities so all children can easily access it. (Laureate Education, 2011).  

When setting up the environment I will make sure that all children are equally represented and recognizable. This is an important part of anti-bias education. I like to encourage parents visits from home as an extension for the child. Mystery reader was one of my favourite activities. Each week there would be a mystery reader and the children would be surprised by which parent or teacher it would be. A healthy and holistic environment means open and clear communication between teacher and parents. This is essential for success.

References:

Derman-Sparks, L., & Olsen Edwards, J. (2010).  Anti-bias education for young children           and   ourselves.  Washington, D. C.: National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC). 

Laureate Education, Inc. (2011).  Strategies for working with diverse children: Welcome to     an anti-bias learning community.  Baltimore, MD: Author