As an educator of young learners, creating a tidy and well-organized learning environment is crucial for student success. It sets clear expectations and helps students find what they need easily. My students are involved in setting up different areas and choosing tasks to keep the room in order, fostering responsibility and teamwork. This creates a calm and safe space where students can freely explore their ideas, learn from mistakes, and develop essential skills. Together, we build an exciting and structured environment that nurtures student growth.

The Celebration of Learning (COL) for the second semester of the 2022-2023 academic school year was a culmination of an incredible journey that began with International Day in March 2023. Within my two class groups, the Bobcats and Jaguars, students had the opportunity to select a country to study in both the English and Chinese classrooms. They chose Puerto Rico and Australia, and being of Puerto Rican descent, this presented a unique chance for me to introduce the students to the Spanish language, wildlife, landscape, and famous landmarks of Puerto Rico. Our focus on Puerto Rico led us to delve into the wonders of El Yunque Rainforest, which inspired us to recreate this natural treasure in our hallway, embellishing it with artifacts crafted during our classes. As our exploration continued, we shifted our attention to the importance of nature preservation across the grade level. Students once again had the choice to study rainforests in the English classroom or the ocean in the Chinese classroom. Those who chose the rainforest worked tirelessly to enhance our large installation and create posters and videos advocating for the conservation of nature. To further support our cause, the students designed a Rainforest Cafe for the COL, taking charge of menu design, ordering food and beverages, creating a video invitation that was played during their graduation ceremony held on the same day as the COL, and finally hosting the event in our transformed rainforest environment. It was a truly captivating and immersive experience that highlighted the students' dedication, creativity, and commitment to making a positive impact on our planet.

The Celebration of Learning (COL) for the first semester of the 2023-2024 academic school year was an incredible journey into the world of Pie Corbett. Through a collaborative effort with my colleague, StaceyAnn Palma, we introduced our students to the classic tale of The Three Little Pigs using the engaging and interactive Pie Corbett Talk for Writing method.

To create an immersive experience, we devised an innovative hook enhanced by the use of technology. Our students received emails from the school security guards, alerting them that a wolf was loose in the vicinity of the school. To further captivate their attention, we incorporated security footage that guided their learning and understanding of the wolf's intentions.

As the story unfolded, our students received messages from pigs in the "Pigs Witness Protection Program," which helped them navigate their next steps in learning and sharing The Three Little Pigs with others. This unique approach sparked meaningful conversations about empathy and understanding for someone who was misunderstood. Initially, the students wanted the wolf to face punishment for destroying their houses and interfering with their personal property. However, through these discussions, they realized that the punishment of going to jail did not fit the crime, and they advocated for the wolf's release and a sincere apology instead. When the wolf was not released, the students even devised an escape plan!

To culminate this immersive learning experience, we invited parents to a special event on the day of the COL. The combined classes showcased their recitation of The Three Little Pigs in true Pie Corbett form, incorporating hand gestures they had learned through the story map—an essential element of the literacy program. After their impressive recital, parents had the opportunity to watch a carefully curated film showcasing the journey of learning this story, capturing the memorable moments of their children's growth and development.

The use of the Pie Corbett Talk for Writing method, combined with technology and a creative storyline, made the exploration of The Three Little Pigs a truly unforgettable experience for our students. It not only fostered a love for literacy but also nurtured important values of empathy, understanding, and collaborative problem-solving. We are proud of the engaging and interactive learning environment we created and the lasting impact it had on our students' learning journey.

Assessments play a vital role in education, providing valuable insights into student progress and guiding instructional decisions. However, in situations where standardized assessments may not be readily available, the act of designing a practical and concise assessment for your team becomes an act of service and love for fellow educators.

Designed with the aim of providing educators with a convenient and centralized tool, the Student Progress Profile brings together a diverse range of assessments in one accessible resource. This booklet serves as a compilation of assessments carefully curated from various sources, either recreated or collated, to ensure ease of access and use for teachers.

With a focus on addressing critical areas such as Letters & Sounds phonics recognition, Fry sight words, Kindergarten WIDA assessment for speaking and listening, and concepts of print, this thoughtfully designed booklet empowers teachers to gather essential data on their students' development.

By consolidating these assessments into one comprehensive resource, educators can save valuable time and effort in searching for and piecing together various assessment materials. The booklet provides a user-friendly format that allows teachers to seamlessly access and utilize the assessments as needed.

Collaborating with colleagues is a cornerstone of professional growth and development for educators. It opens doors to new opportunities, cultivates skills, provides coaching experiences, and fosters strong relationships built on trust, accountability, and empathy. Through such collaboration, solid outcomes are achieved, leaving a lasting impact.

A remarkable demonstration of the power of collaboration emerged as I closely partnered with Hollie Steed, our Wellness and Movement teacher. Transitioning abruptly from her role as an associate teacher, Hollie found herself thrust into the demanding position of being the sole WAM teacher and event coordinator for the Kindergarten Division, entrusted with the responsibility of over 200 students. This formidable task presented her with immense challenges, but our collaboration unveiled the profound strength that lies within teamwork.

Together, we embarked on a journey to create a memorable WAM Day experience, akin to a sports day event. We put our heads together and carefully designed a series of engaging events tailored specifically for the Pre-K and Kindergarten students. While Hollie brought her insight into the types of activities that would captivate and inspire young learners, I took charge of designing the event's marketing materials. This included creating colorful mascot characters for each color group and designing a comprehensive reference packet for teachers to understand the layout of the day.

The process demanded significant time and effort, but the rewards were immeasurable. Beyond the successful execution of WAM Day, the true triumph emerged from the growth and development we experienced as individuals and as a team. Our collaboration forged a lasting bond built on mutual trust as professionals.

This collaboration exemplifies the profound outcomes that can be achieved when educators come together, pooling their strengths and supporting one another's growth. Through our joint efforts, we created a memorable experience for our students, fostering their love for wellness and movement.