Cast On: The Environment
A bi-monthly resource roundup for early childhood educators
Hi friends,
I’m trying something new here.
There’s so much information out there about what we should or shouldn’t do in early childhood education. It’s often conflicting. It’s definitely overwhelming. And if we’re being honest, most of the professional learning options available to us are dull, irrelevant, or offer nothing we couldn’t have figured out on our own. That’s not learning. That’s just a waste of a perfectly good Tuesday afternoon.
But here’s the thing: if we want to elevate our field and earn the respect it deserves, we have to keep learning. We have to stay current with research, tools, and ideas. And we can’t outsource that to social media.
So I’d like to help.
Twice a month, I’ll be dropping into your inbox with Cast On — a curated roundup of articles, books, podcasts, websites, and yes, sometimes children’s literature, all focused on a single topic relevant to our work with young children. I do the digging. You get the good stuff.
Each issue will include a brief synopsis of every resource, plus a little context for why I chose it and who it’s most useful for — because your time is precious and you deserve to know whether something is worth it before you click.
What exactly is Cast On?
I’m glad you asked!
I’m a knitter. In knitting, casting on is how you begin — you set the foundation before anything else can take shape. That felt right for what I’m trying to do here. Every issue is an invitation to start something: a new idea, a new strategy, a new way of seeing your classroom.
This first issue focuses on the environment, one of my favorite topics and a thread that runs through almost everything I do and write. I hope you find something useful.
And before we get into it, I’d love to know what you want to see in future issues. Scroll to the bottom and take 30 seconds to weigh in. This is your roundup as much as mine.
Let’s cast on.
— Randi
THIS ISSUE: Environment
Designs for Living and Learning, 3rd Edition — Deb Curtis & Margie Carter
This is one of my all-time favorites, newly updated! It makes the case that the physical environment is not a backdrop for learning but an active participant in it. Curtis and Carter walk educators through how to observe, reflect on, and intentionally design spaces that honor children’s curiosity, creativity, and need for belonging. Every edition of this book has the most beautiful photos of inspiring early childhood settings.
Why it’s here: This is the book I wish every early childhood educator received on their first day of work. The third edition brings fresh relevance to ideas that have shaped the field for decades.
For you if: You’ve inherited a classroom that doesn’t feel like yours yet, or you’ve been in the same room for years and know something needs to change but aren’t sure where to start.
📌 Classic resource · PreK–3 · Classroom environment · Book
Through a Child’s Eyes: How Classroom Design Inspires Learning and Wonder — Sandra Duncan
Sandra Duncan invites educators to do something deceptively simple: get down to a child’s eye level and truly look at what they see. The result is a practical, visually rich guide to rethinking everything from shelf height to lighting to the messages our wall displays send, all through the lens of the children who live in these spaces every day.
Why it’s here: Most of us design classrooms for adult eyes: what looks organized, what looks “educational.” This book gently dismantles that habit and replaces it with something much more useful: genuine curiosity about the child’s experience of the space.
For you if: You want to make meaningful changes to your environment but don’t have a big budget — Duncan’s approach is about seeing differently, not spending more.
📌 Practical resource · PreK–K · Classroom environment · Book
“Designing Environments That Nurture the Joy of Play” — Robert Dillon, Exchange Press (February 2026)
This short article makes a compelling argument that intentional classroom design isn’t a luxury; it’s a necessity for play-based learning to thrive. Dillon breaks down what makes an environment flexible, inviting, and purposeful, and offers specific language educators can use when advocating for design changes to administrators and parents who may not immediately see the connection between space and learning outcomes.
Why it’s here: It’s a quick read that does double duty; it deepens your own thinking and gives you words to use in conversations with the people who control your budget and your building.
For you if: You believe in your environment but struggle to explain why it matters to the adults who aren’t in your classroom every day.
📌 Current research · PreK–3 · Classroom environment · Article · Free
“The Hidden Curriculum in Early Childhood” — Everything ECE Podcast with Carla Ward, Episode 206 (11 min.)
In just eleven minutes, this episode unpacks the idea that our classrooms are always teaching — whether we intend them to or not. The arrangement of materials, the flow of the space, the visuals on the walls: all of it sends messages to children about what’s valued, who belongs, and what learning looks like. Ward’s conversational style makes this feel less like professional development and more like a great conversation with a thoughtful colleague.
Why it’s here: Eleven minutes. That’s it. You can listen on your commute, during lunch, or while you’re tidying up at the end of the day. No excuses.
For you if: You’re newer to thinking about environment as curriculum and want a gentle, jargon-free entry point — or you’re a veteran who just needs a quick reminder of why this work matters.
📌 Quick listen · All ECE settings · Hidden curriculum · Podcast · Free
Your Turn
Cast On is only as useful as it is relevant to you — and I genuinely don’t want to waste your time. So before I start digging for the next issue, I’d love your input.
What topics would you most like to see covered in future issues of Cast On?
(Select all that apply)