The classroom environment is purposefully planned to support student learning through whole group, math and literacy centers, choice play-based centers, as well as areas for independent learning. In this video, Zahidee Marcano, the Kindergarten teacher, will introduce you to the “why, what, and how” she organizes her classroom and how she designs it to be student-centered to maximize student emotional safety and opportunities for learning through purposeful play. The classroom’s centers facilitate the learning application through individual and peer-to-peer investigation, exploration, and seizes on opportunities to enhance the joy of learning. Pay special attention to how the classroom’s environment and learning activities are all student-developed and facilitated through a literacy-rich, thematic-based approach (2e-Organizing Physical Environment: There is total alignment between the learning activities and the physical environment; Distinguished). Zahidee also involves the families deeply in the instructional process through family research/writing projects that align to each theme-based unit of study. (Cluster 5-Successful Learning for All: The teacher actively encourages two-way communication with families regarding student learning; Distiguished)
