Environmental Supports
Environmental Supports set the stage for active and engaged learning for children. Learning environments are welcoming, inclusive, and thoughtfully organized and designed to promote learning in ALL languages. For dual and multilingual learners, it is especially important to display environmental print, materials, and resources in their home languages and reflect the environments they recognize. Whether you serve children in a home, community, or center-based setting, the following POLL Environmental Supports can be helpful when creating a learning environment that is culturally sensitive and responsive, honors children and family’s languages, and facilitates children’s language learning experiences.
The Environmental Supports Strategy honors and reflects children and family cultures, languages, and preferences.
Environmental Supports promote...
- Value and support home languages and cultures.
- Provide visual information in children’s home languages.
- Engage the interests of the child.
Considerations as you design Environmental Supports for your multilingual learners:
- Environmental print (words, pictures, symbols, schedules) are visible in each home language throughout the learning environment.Â
- Interest areas and materials are labeled in home languages and English.
- Written messages are displayed in children’s home languages and English.
- Parent communication boards include both home languages and English.
- Books in children’s home languages are accessible on a variety of topics and interests.
- Objects and learning materials authentically represent children’s cultures, languages, and interests and help children make sense of their experiences including multi-age materials for individual and cross-age exploration
- Family, community, and cultural photos are important elements of Environmental Supports.
- Indoor and outdoor areas include meaningful opportunities to share and learn about cultures, interests, and preferences.Â
- Interest areas and meal times are opportunities to reflect the families and cultures of the children you work with.
- Spaces for children to interact and use language are safe, available, and appealing.
- Children have opportunities to find, select, explore, experience, and engage.Â
Environmental Supports for Center-Based Child CareÂ
Environmental Supports for Center-Based Child Care
Environmental Supports for Family Child Care (FCC)
Environmental Supports for Family, Friend, and Neighbor (FFN) Child Care
The environment sets the stage for active learning. Well-organized environments with accessible materials support the development of initiative, self-regulation, and positive social interaction. Environmental supports such as photos, and labels displayed in children’s home languages send the message that children’s families and languages are valued.
How providers use these environmental supports makes a difference in scaffolding children’s learning visually and structurally. All children benefit from a predictable schedule posted with words and pictures, but such a scaffold is essential for Dual Language Learners (DLLs). These schedules, along with materials, labeling, and pictures help all children make sense of their experiences and books.