https://padlet.com/apeng4/13b3grvphnijl5qq en-us 2022-05-05 02:10:46 UTC 2022-05-05 23:49:46 UTC hello@padlet.com https://padlet.net/icons/png/1f431.png apeng4 https://padlet.com/apeng4/13b3grvphnijl5qq/wish/2170819937 We need more geography in school! I love this map and think a map is a great idea in every classroom. Mine doesn't have one this year, but next year I intend to bring a map from home and perhaps allow kiddos to discuss where they are from. I can share that I am from the East Coast and grew up in England, so hopefully friends from other locations won't be intimidated. Additionally, we can track where we travel during the school year. I teach in a community where there is a lot of schoolyear travel. ;)]]> 2022-05-05 02:10:46 UTC https://padlet.com/apeng4/13b3grvphnijl5qq/wish/2170819937 apeng4 https://padlet.com/apeng4/13b3grvphnijl5qq/wish/2170819938 I love this idea and I have not done it yet. I would like to have artifacts that are special to my students, or maybe just the STAR of the week displayed. If I do this one by one, I will be sure to ask that students bring something that represents themselves. Hopefully this will allow kids to share some element of where they are from/traditions that they have at home. ]]> 2022-05-05 02:10:46 UTC https://padlet.com/apeng4/13b3grvphnijl5qq/wish/2170819938 apeng4 https://padlet.com/apeng4/13b3grvphnijl5qq/wish/2170819940 I have been working on this for YEARS, and it's hard to do on a teacher salary! Thankfully, we have an awesome school librarian who is a huge advocate for representing all students in our classroom libraries. She has been able to get the school board to approve funding for so many amazing and diverse books this year. I add them to my wish list at every book fair, too, which is helpful as I usually get most of the books I request. Even though youtube is a HUGE help because I can find all of the inclusive read alouds my heart desires, I also like to have the books for the students to see, hold, and read. My library is pretty good, but I definitely look forward to expanding even further to represent all of my children!]]> 2022-05-05 02:10:46 UTC https://padlet.com/apeng4/13b3grvphnijl5qq/wish/2170819940 apeng4 https://padlet.com/apeng4/13b3grvphnijl5qq/wish/2170819942 Next year I will have younger students as universal TK is expanding so students who turn five between September and February are eligible. I already feel that in TK we need a teacher's aide. I can have up to 24 students and some years it has been pretty draining to give each of these kiddos what they need. I am pleased that the ratio is changing next school year, and it's now 12:1. This means I will have a teacher's aide in my classroom FULL TIME! Having two teachers in the room is wonderful for all of my students, but it really does allow for more individualized attention and focus on students who perhaps need a little more, especially my newcomers! ]]> 2022-05-05 02:10:46 UTC https://padlet.com/apeng4/13b3grvphnijl5qq/wish/2170819942 apeng4 https://padlet.com/apeng4/13b3grvphnijl5qq/wish/2170819943 This year, we have A TON of STEAM stations, or playtime choice stations. I realized early on that the kids were confused by the words and my simple drawings and I needed photographs for each station. It was also helpful because when we had more regulations for COVID, I had so many stations because kids had to play in groups of two! It was just a lot. I took pictures of the kids while they were playing and made photo cards for each station and then I also laminated a choice board that I allow students who struggle with choosing to look at when we choose. It has been SUPER helpful and also allows the kids to help me by putting the STEAM cards in the correct choice. (They lovingly refer to this as "giving Mrs Peng a break." Ha!)]]> 2022-05-05 02:10:46 UTC https://padlet.com/apeng4/13b3grvphnijl5qq/wish/2170819943 apeng4 https://padlet.com/apeng4/13b3grvphnijl5qq/wish/2170819944 Our schedule in class looks similar to this. I bought this magnetic calendar for my classroom this year because I FINALLY wanted to have pictures of the schedule on the board. My students do use it quite often, although I also go over the schedule with them in the morning and it doesn't change too much day to day. I have noticed that for my ELL kiddos and my students with special needs, this can be particularly useful. I referenced it often at the beginning of the year. ]]> 2022-05-05 02:10:46 UTC https://padlet.com/apeng4/13b3grvphnijl5qq/wish/2170819944 apeng4 https://padlet.com/apeng4/13b3grvphnijl5qq/wish/2170857104 I get a new TK classroom next school year and one goal of mine will be to label absolutely everything I can. I think it would be particularly beneficial for my students to have things labeled in both English and their native language. Add to that, I want pictures for as many things as possible, too. I will have a bathroom in my classroom and I want a clearly labeled illustration of handwashing, cleaning paintbrushes, etc. (My preference is real life pictures of students completing these tasks.)]]> 2022-05-05 03:03:35 UTC https://padlet.com/apeng4/13b3grvphnijl5qq/wish/2170857104 apeng4 https://padlet.com/apeng4/13b3grvphnijl5qq/wish/2172178148 I forgot to add this one... I LOVE having a student as a greeter at the door when kiddos come in. They can choose their greeting from the pictures/labels outside of the door and greet each other as they come in. I wasn't able to do this during COVID, and I really hope to bring it back next year (slightly edited... maybe to avoid the handshake?) Allowing my ELL students to feel welcome and included is of the utmost importance. ]]> 2022-05-05 23:38:38 UTC https://padlet.com/apeng4/13b3grvphnijl5qq/wish/2172178148 apeng4 https://padlet.com/apeng4/13b3grvphnijl5qq/wish/2172184651 There are some years we have access to Imagine Learning and computers/iPads for the students to participate on. This year, we did not. I do hope it comes back as I felt it was helpful for my ELLs. Also, I think a listening center is a fabulous idea... either on computer (maybe like a RAZ kids program) or just CD players and books like the good ol' days! ( I don't like my kiddos to spend too much time on technology although it can be so helpful. I know they get a lot of it when they are at home!)]]> 2022-05-05 23:48:12 UTC https://padlet.com/apeng4/13b3grvphnijl5qq/wish/2172184651