A classroom is an important part of a child's learning environment. It is therefore, crucial for the pre-primary teacher to provide a stimulating, pleasant, learning environment for the children. Learning corners are ideal work spaces for children where they can learn in simulated real life situations. Having designated areas or learning corners for specific activities and storage of classroom equipment is an efficient and effective way of organizing, and optimizing children's learning experiences. Learning corners encourage children to learn in ways that are natural to them; they allow children to work independently, in small groups or one-on-one with the teacher. Learning corners provide for a wide range of abilities and interests where children can progress at their own rate and repeat an activity for pleasure or reinforcement. Learning corners encourage children to be independent, make decisions and solve problems and also foster experimentation, curiosity and creativity.

CREATING LEARNING CORNERS (GOSHAS)

Working in different learning corners helps develop children's ability to:
1) Take initiative and make decisions about what they are going to do (plan) and how they are going to do it
2) Complete self-chosen tasks and review their plans
3) Question, experiment, discover and make sense of the world around them
4) Work, share and co-operate with other children
5) Work independently, towards mastery of different skills
6) Conform and adhere to classroom rules
7) Reason and express themselves in a wide range of naturally occurring situations, thereby building their self confidence

Depending on the size of the classroom and the space and resources available, you can set up three or more learning corners at a time and then change them, some on a weekly or monthly basis. Learning corners should be clearly separated by space in your classroom. Clear boundaries should exist between one learning corner and the other. A few of the learning corners that can be created are as follows:

Language Corner:
This corner should be equipped with material related to increasing vocabulary and learning reading skills.

Library Corner:
This corner should be set up to promote the reading habit and to learn how to care for and value books.

Art Corner:
This corner should provide children with opportunities for creative expression.

Math Corner:
Appropriate material for the math corner includes objects that will help children grasp basic math concepts of size, shape, width, classification and number, by direct experimentation.

Science Corner:
This corner should provide children with opportunities for observation and experimentation in order to understand the world around them.

Home Corner:
The home corner should reflect the cultural background of the children where various kitchen utensils, clothes, small furniture and dolls can be provided. From a kitchen it can be later transformed into a shop, office or a doctor's clinic. Even though the learning corners are separate, it is important to remember that the development and learning that takes place cannot really be separated, and that learning takes place simultaneously in different learning corners and areas of development.

SOURCE:
Strong Foundations, A Guide for ECE Teachers Developed by the (TRC) Teachers’ Resource Centre