Best Practices for ECE Classroom Setup

Best Practices for ECE Classroom
Setup

featuring insights from Julie Spencer. She has 30 years of preschoolteaching and 12 years in Product Development with Constructive Playthings.

Let’s be honest: classroom setup isn’t décor, it’s behavior, engagement, and independence. The
way you place shelves, label bins, and carve out pathways will be more effective in creating a
smooth, impactful day in the classroom. In early childhood, the environment is the third teacher. When the room is intentional, children explore with confidence, teachers actually get to teach, and the noise you hear is productive, not chaotic. This article summarizes a webinar produced by Inspire Care 360, hosted by Tony D’Agostino, along with co-hosts Seth Freiden, Julie Spencer, and John Wilson. Julie, an Early Childhood Education (ECE) teacher with 30 years of experience, shares practical suggestions based on her classroom experiences and refined through her work with products. Let’s dive in!

Define 4–5 Learning Centers, and make them obvious

Every classroom is different (ages of students, square footage, ratios), but a solid target is four
to five clearly defined areas. Observe your students interacting with the classroom and adapt
based on their needs and desires.

Make it visual and unmistakable:

• Use open shelving, low units (clear backs or glass when you need sightlines), area rugs,
  and rolling carts to create boundaries children recognize at a glance.
• Label shelves and bins with a picture & word so children know where things live and
  where they go back.

Always include literacy props in every center:

• Blocks: blueprints or building diagrams
• Art: images of artists/techniques
• Dramatic play: picture-rich recipe books/menus

Rotate to stay fresh: Set a schedule and add reminders to rotate items. You don’t need a full
swap: 1–2 items per center keeps interest high without killing your prep time. The goal is to
keep it simple but fresh to keep interest.

Plan traffic flow like you mean it

This isn’t décor, it’s supervision and behavior management.

• Sightlines: Teachers should be able to see all active areas from typical positions around
  the room.
• Wide entries: Narrow openings discourage entry. Keep entries to centers or sections
  wide and inviting.
• Separate noise: Keep your loud centers grouped and your quieter or independent
  centers farther away from the loud centers.

Bottom line: Start intentionally, then observe and adjust. Behavior spikes are often
environmental, not “kid problems.”

Build independence on purpose

Children manage more when the room makes sense. Create a classroom that the children can
take ownership of and can participate in maintaining.

• Open shelving + matched picture/word labels = kids can find and put away materials
  without hand-holding.
• Use puzzle racks as intended, outline block shapes on shelves, and keep everything
  front-facing and reachable.
• Aim for a cleanup time that kids can run themselves.

Aim for a cleanup time that kids can run themselves.

Small choices add up to a big sense of belonging. The following are ways to create a welcoming and inclusive environment for all students in your classroom:

• Books that reflect diverse families and celebrations
• Skin-tone dolls, crayons, and markers
• Display children’s own artwork in hallways and rooms. This creates a sense of pride and
  ownership of the classroom for the students.
• Create a quiet corner with sensory tools and clearly communicate when and how to use
  it. Emotion regulation is a teachable skill.

Pro tip: Invite children to co-design the environment (e.g., student-drawn shelf labels or
Dramatic Play reflecting the children’s interests).

Gross motor rooms that don’t turn into a free-for-all

If you’re lucky enough to have the space, divide intentionally:

• Use physical dividers (e.g., a balance beam or painters’ tape) to separate rolling/riding
  zones from climbing/soft-play zones.
• Painter’s tape is your friend: You can create lanes, shapes to jump in or lines to balance
  on, or start/finish lines for relay races. It’s a cheap structure that helps create clear
  expectations.
• Mix in parachutes, stepping domes/paths, and bouncy/playground balls. Depending on
  school/state policies, allow children to be in socks to feel the texture of the stepping
  stones.

Teach spatial awareness, not just energy burn.

Health, safety, and cleanability

Kids put everything in their mouths and will use things in unintended ways. Plan accordingly.

• Child-sized furniture, no-tip arrangements, clear walkways.
• Quick post-cleanup floor scan for stray manipulatives (trip hazards).
• Materials must meet age-appropriate safety standards.
• Prioritize cleanability when you buy and know how to care for items. Some products to
  note are dishwasher-safe baskets are a timesaver; wood shelving or toys are great, but
  need to be cared for in specific ways. When cleaning wood items, use a soap and water
  solution and then thoroughly dry the wood items to save the finish.
• Follow state licensing on disinfectants (bleach allowed in some places, banned in
  others).

Training staff and bringing in fresh eyes

Inanimate objects don’t manage classrooms; teachers do. Coach staff to literally get on the floor and inspect from a child’s eye level. Get a fresh perspective and let the children lead! Be
proactive and think: “What could a child do with this?”

• If behavior trends shift, change the environment first.
• Invite a director or peer from another room to observe. You see your room daily;
  outsiders see what you miss.
• Partner with families: if a child struggles to navigate the room, parents often have
  practical clues you can apply.

Why Constructive Playthings?

• By teachers, for teachers: 70+ years, family-owned. Product choices are made for
  learning outcomes, not quick turnover.
• Quality that lasts: Warranties (many multi-year to lifetime). You shouldn’t be replacing
  core furniture every two years.
• Partnership mindset: They listen. One assistant director’s idea can become a solution
  for thousands.
• Playgrounds, end-to-end: Equipment and installation across the 48 states. Safety and durability are the non-negotiables. Experts to help you plan the appropriate play space
  for your center, specifically!
• IC360 member benefits: If you’re with Inspire Care 360, you get significant extras. Not a member? You can still work directly with Constructive Playthings. Your choice.

Classroom setup isn’t window dressing; it’s behavior, engagement, and independence made
visible. If something’s off, fix the environment first. Keep to the fundamentals that have always
worked: clear centers, clean sightlines, labels kids can read with their eyes and their hands, and
be intentional about every inch.

“Children practice awe and wonder! They want and need to help create their
space.” —Julie Spencer

Take action by allowing students to co-design labels and displays in the classroom. Incorporate literacy props into every center. Ensure that there are distinct areas for loud and quiet activities. Rotate a few materials each month to keep the environment engaging. When assessing the room, remember to walk at child height to identify any potential hazards. Choose materials that are durable and easy to clean. By effectively implementing these basic strategies, you’ll notice fewer disruptions, more focused play, and an environment that acts like a “third teacher.” Start by making one small change this week, and conduct fresh observations next week