What does an ACCESS Classroom look like?

Inspiring

beautiful, ROSIE, invitations to learn, provocations

Authentic

An authentic classroom is one in which children have opportunities to build life skills and have meaningful experiences with items that are used in the real world. ACCESS Classrooms can still have some plastic, child-sized toys, but must included items that can be used authentically. Children may learn cooking skills using adult-sized kitchen utensils. They might use real tools like screwdrivers to construct and deconstruct simple machinery. They might have thermometers and rain gauges to study weather. ACCESS teahcers extend authenticity to outside the classroom as well. Classes might be using thermometers and rain gauges to study weather or using shovels to plant seeds in the school garden. They may even be learning navigation skills around the building and playground. 

Science-ful 

Having a "science-ful" classroom doesn't mean posting science tables on your wall. It doesn't mean buying toy chemistry sets or mock microscopes. A "science-ful" classroom is one that has unique, engaging and authentic items in the classroom that prompt children to ask questions and discover more. Tools for inquiry are also essential for a science-ful classroom, but are most effective when they are real and not imitations. These tools include magnifying glasses, a working microscope, containers for collection and clipboards.

Child-Centered

child artword, organized and inclusive, developmentally appropriate