Classroom Redesign: Kindergarten by Kristy Huerter https://padlet.com/kristy_huerter/zr6tpc4kt3da Culturally Responsive Teaching in Elementary en-us 2018-06-04 15:38:44 UTC 2024-11-25 03:56:26 UTC hello@padlet.com https://padlet-assets.s3.amazonaws.com/icons/Templeball.png Student Artifacts kristy_huerter https://padlet.com/kristy_huerter/zr6tpc4kt3da/wish/265422409 I plan to redesign my "Star Student" wall to include not only pictures of students, but meaningful artifacts as well. Previously, the Superstar Student of the Week was asked to bring pictures from home to share with the class and hang on the bulletin board. I plan to expand this idea to include a display shelf for meaningful artifacts students choose to bring, which will provide more connections to their heritages. I will move the location of the Superstar Student to a bulletin board which includes a bookshelf directly below it for displaying the students' treasures. Artifact suggestions will include: 
  • special toys 
  • personal artwork
  • menus from favorite restaurants
  • additional languages
  • clothing
  • awards
  • symbols of their belief systems or religious books
  • representations of their ancestry
I will be especially mindful of students with minimal home to school involvement so they have equitable artifacts and feel part of our classroom community. I plan to utilize the information provided to me in our Infinite Campus data base and the support of the school guidance counselor to ensure each child has representation during the week s/he is the Superstar Student. I will also encourage these students to select favorite library books, activities from the classroom, and works they have created in art class to display on the shelf. 
]]> 2018-06-04 15:41:10 UTC https://padlet.com/kristy_huerter/zr6tpc4kt3da/wish/265422409 Lunch Bunch kristy_huerter https://padlet.com/kristy_huerter/zr6tpc4kt3da/wish/265422882 Of the five school buildings in the Pella Community School District, Madison Elementary has the highest percentage (21.4%) of students eligible for Free and Reduced Lunch. Source: http://db.desmoinesregister.com/iowa-free-reduced-meals/?searchterms%5Bcol1%5D=pella&searchterms%5Bcol2%5D=
These finding were not surprising to me based on our geographical location within the district; however, it has prompted me to form "Lunch Bunch" groups of 5-6 students. Through this research and the student interviews from the Funds of Knowledge, I have rediscovered how students enjoyed talking with me in a relaxed setting. Each group which will include students who bring their own lunch, receive free and reduced lunch, and pay for school lunch. The conversations will be open ended and we will alternate eating in the classroom and the lunchroom.   ]]> 2018-06-04 15:42:55 UTC https://padlet.com/kristy_huerter/zr6tpc4kt3da/wish/265422882 Language Study kristy_huerter https://padlet.com/kristy_huerter/zr6tpc4kt3da/wish/265422997 Based upon my Funds of Knowledge Research, the students in our school who have Indian heritage also speak additional languages such as Hindi and Gujarati. The Superstar Student Week is a prime time to provide language study by incorporating common phrases, greetings, color words, etc. into our Literacy learning. I plan to invite parents to either record themselves and their student or teach us in person. This invitation will be extended to all families during their student's Superstar week. The words and phrases will be added to our classroom Word Wall pictured below. ]]> 2018-06-04 15:43:14 UTC https://padlet.com/kristy_huerter/zr6tpc4kt3da/wish/265422997 Calendar & Music kristy_huerter https://padlet.com/kristy_huerter/zr6tpc4kt3da/wish/265423166 Included in my Funds of Knowledge interviews with parents, were suggestions for incorporating additional music, holidays, and cultural festivals. Pictured is our Kindergarten Large Group Gathering space which includes calendar and music time. Based upon the information provided by families, I plan to include more cultural learning into our large group meeting time through songs, multimedia, books, and holidays which are significant to the students in my classroom. I will invite families to share in person or through video and will also utilize online and school library resources. ]]> 2018-06-04 15:43:51 UTC https://padlet.com/kristy_huerter/zr6tpc4kt3da/wish/265423166 Holidays and Festivals kristy_huerter https://padlet.com/kristy_huerter/zr6tpc4kt3da/wish/265444299 Multimedia such as the following YouTube video is designed with young learners in mind and is an example of how I plan to incorporate more multicultural holidays and festivals into large group learning, as was suggested by parents through my Funds of Knowledge Research. ]]> 2018-06-04 17:01:58 UTC https://padlet.com/kristy_huerter/zr6tpc4kt3da/wish/265444299 Creating a Welcoming Classroom For All Students kristy_huerter https://padlet.com/kristy_huerter/zr6tpc4kt3da/wish/265462482 Of the two elementary schools in the district, Madison Elementary provides the resources for students needing physical, behavioral, and cognitive support. While I have considered myself and my students to be fortunate to be teaching and learning in an environment which supports the inclusion of all students, through this course, I have become aware how these students can become marginalized and we may begin to believe it is better not to have a disability, known as ableism: "the oppression of peoples with disabilities" (Sensoy & DiAngelo, p82). Although it may be unintentional, ableism is at play within my school. According to Storey (2015), “It is unlikely that the mere physical presence of students and others with disabilities is likely to change negative attitudes” (p57). Although all students in my classroom are valued, I plan to engage greater understanding through ideas from both Storey and Gamble: 
  • Parental/student sharing
  • Accessible spaces and attitudes
  • Student understanding through sensory challenges
  • Literature
https://www.cultofpedagogy.com/welcoming-special-ed/

]]> 2018-06-04 18:09:40 UTC https://padlet.com/kristy_huerter/zr6tpc4kt3da/wish/265462482 kristy_huerter https://padlet.com/kristy_huerter/zr6tpc4kt3da/wish/265469080 2018-06-04 18:37:35 UTC https://padlet.com/kristy_huerter/zr6tpc4kt3da/wish/265469080 kristy_huerter https://padlet.com/kristy_huerter/zr6tpc4kt3da/wish/265469148 2018-06-04 18:37:58 UTC https://padlet.com/kristy_huerter/zr6tpc4kt3da/wish/265469148 kristy_huerter https://padlet.com/kristy_huerter/zr6tpc4kt3da/wish/265486657 2018-06-04 20:15:36 UTC https://padlet.com/kristy_huerter/zr6tpc4kt3da/wish/265486657 Welcome to Kindergarten! kristy_huerter https://padlet.com/kristy_huerter/zr6tpc4kt3da/wish/265486841 2018-06-04 20:16:58 UTC https://padlet.com/kristy_huerter/zr6tpc4kt3da/wish/265486841 Resources kristy_huerter https://padlet.com/kristy_huerter/zr6tpc4kt3da/wish/265489834 Gonzales, J. (2016). Creating a welcoming classroom for students with special needs, retrieved June 4, 2018. https://www.cultofpedagogy.com/welcoming-special-ed/

Iliev, N. & D'Angelo (2014). Teaching children mathematics through multicultural literature. Retrieved June 8, 2018: file:///Users/huerterk/Downloads/tcm2014-03-452a.pdf

Making Space, Teaching for Diversity and Social Justice Throughout the K-12 Curriculum. Retrieved June 5, 2018: https://www.bced.gov.bc.ca/irp/pdfs/making_space/makingSpace_full.pdf

Sensoy, O., & DiAngelo, R. (2017). Is Everyone Really Equal? An Introduction to Key Concepts in Social Justice Education (2nd ed.) (J. A. Banks, Ed.). New York, NY: Teachers College Press.

Storey, K. (2007). Combating ableism in schools. Preventing School Failure, 56-58.

Teaching for Change, retrieved June 5, 2018: http://www.teachingforchange.org/socialjusticebooks-org

Teaching Tolerance. Art and community activism, retrieved June 3, 2018. https://www.tolerance.org/classroom-resources/tolerance-lessons/art-and-community-activism

]]> 2018-06-04 20:35:38 UTC https://padlet.com/kristy_huerter/zr6tpc4kt3da/wish/265489834 Classroom Art Center kristy_huerter https://padlet.com/kristy_huerter/zr6tpc4kt3da/wish/265492882 2018-06-04 20:59:19 UTC https://padlet.com/kristy_huerter/zr6tpc4kt3da/wish/265492882 Connecting Art & Social Studies kristy_huerter https://padlet.com/kristy_huerter/zr6tpc4kt3da/wish/265494114 In kindergarten, students often have the opportunity to express themselves through art, but I rarely incorporate social studies into art planning. The linked lesson plan from teachingtolerance.org includes lessons for introducing community activism through grade level literature and art. After reading this lesson plan, I adjusted my previous thinking that kindergartners were not old enough to understand activism. These lessons not only provide age appropriate descriptions and examples, but also literature which I am already able to access! 
Through my School and Community Research I also discovered local organizations; The Well, Care Bags, and Crossroads which provide opportunities for classrooms to become involved with age appropriate activities to support community members. I plan to team up with a Third Grade colleague through our "Reading Buddies" partnership to engage our students in the literature, art, and local service and activism options. ]]> 2018-06-04 21:09:09 UTC https://padlet.com/kristy_huerter/zr6tpc4kt3da/wish/265494114 kristy_huerter https://padlet.com/kristy_huerter/zr6tpc4kt3da/wish/265497107 2018-06-04 21:26:39 UTC https://padlet.com/kristy_huerter/zr6tpc4kt3da/wish/265497107 Superstar Student Wall kristy_huerter https://padlet.com/kristy_huerter/zr6tpc4kt3da/wish/265500059 2018-06-04 21:53:50 UTC https://padlet.com/kristy_huerter/zr6tpc4kt3da/wish/265500059 Student Created Bulletin Board kristy_huerter https://padlet.com/kristy_huerter/zr6tpc4kt3da/wish/265501682 2018-06-04 22:09:26 UTC https://padlet.com/kristy_huerter/zr6tpc4kt3da/wish/265501682 Book Baskets/Kindergarten Literature kristy_huerter https://padlet.com/kristy_huerter/zr6tpc4kt3da/wish/265723509 Literature is a high value in my classroom, and pictured are the book baskets which rotate by themes and seasons. I now plan to expand upon my classroom library book baskets to include more holidays & festivals based upon those celebrated by the students in my class. By doing so, I believe my instruction will include texts and strategies for helping my young learners understand and connect who they are in relation to the groups they belong. "Humans are social beings who depend on the humans around us to make sense of our world", (Sensoy & DiAngelo, p 43). Through this course, I have come to deeper levels of understanding my obligations to help my young learners grow as individuals, members of our classroom community, and the school community at large.  ]]> 2018-06-05 19:11:52 UTC https://padlet.com/kristy_huerter/zr6tpc4kt3da/wish/265723509 Social Justice Literature kristy_huerter https://padlet.com/kristy_huerter/zr6tpc4kt3da/wish/265724266 Admittedly, I do not have a large repertoire of social justice titles and this is not acceptable. I have discovered the site, teachingforchange.org, which has a recommended collection of Early Childhood, Anti-Bias books which would be an excellent addition to my kindergarten library. I plan to write a grant through donorschoose.org for this social justice book collection and will use learnings from the course, such as Critical Theory, Socialization, and Intersectionality in my proposal. 

]]> 2018-06-05 19:15:32 UTC https://padlet.com/kristy_huerter/zr6tpc4kt3da/wish/265724266 Making Space Curriculum: Teaching For Diversity and Social Justice kristy_huerter https://padlet.com/kristy_huerter/zr6tpc4kt3da/wish/265727951 Prior to this course, I had not considered incorporating Social Justice skills into the Block Building Center in my classroom. This curriculum, which is available at no cost online, provides many age appropriate lessons for "building" community while building.    ]]> 2018-06-05 19:37:22 UTC https://padlet.com/kristy_huerter/zr6tpc4kt3da/wish/265727951 Block Center kristy_huerter https://padlet.com/kristy_huerter/zr6tpc4kt3da/wish/265729325 2018-06-05 19:45:22 UTC https://padlet.com/kristy_huerter/zr6tpc4kt3da/wish/265729325 Kindergarten Math kristy_huerter https://padlet.com/kristy_huerter/zr6tpc4kt3da/wish/266368939 Math in the Kindergarten classroom focuses on key concepts of number sense which includes counting by 1s, 5s & 10s, patterning, grouping, and adding. Texts such as "My Granny Went to Market" by Blackstone & Core, partners these foundational skills with the study of cultures and countries. I plan to work with our school librarian for resourcing more texts like these into my math curriculum.  ]]> 2018-06-08 20:39:05 UTC https://padlet.com/kristy_huerter/zr6tpc4kt3da/wish/266368939 Extension Activities kristy_huerter https://padlet.com/kristy_huerter/zr6tpc4kt3da/wish/266369923 'Teaching Mathematics Through Multicultural Literature' by Ilive & D'Angelo]]> 2018-06-08 20:49:25 UTC https://padlet.com/kristy_huerter/zr6tpc4kt3da/wish/266369923 Block and Dramatic Play: Community Building & Diversity Lessons kristy_huerter https://padlet.com/kristy_huerter/zr6tpc4kt3da/wish/266418399 2018-06-09 15:59:03 UTC https://padlet.com/kristy_huerter/zr6tpc4kt3da/wish/266418399