The way I choose to position myself in my classroom is that I am learning from my students as much as they are learning from me; we are all teachers in our collaborative learning environment! Therefore, I find it exciting to set future goals for myself- things I would like to learn that pertain both in my classroom and extending out into the world around me. Below, I’ve listed some of my goals and how I’ll plan on reaching them.
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In first grade, things move fast and transitions can be really difficult. Therefore, something I’m working on learning more about is how to use specific soundscapes, chimes, and tones to cue transitions, focus, and calm. This includes using audio cues in routine-building and managing sensory needs- my students thrive with routine. I’d like to study the principles about embedding audio clues in the classroom.
I’d also love to experiment a bit more with making my own classroom playlists on Spotify (something I used during my time teaching fourth grade, which is linked in the image above!) that I have playing for my students during important transitional periods of the day, like when they trickle in the classroom each morning. I would love for this playlist to be shared with families as well, as something collaborative that they can add their child’s favorite (school appropriate) songs to.
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While this goal is something I would like to accomplish farther into the future, it’s one I think about a lot! A specific skill I want to learn more about is audio editing (I am already quite interested in video editing!). I would love to create an anonymous classroom media outlet that showcases my students’ voices in a creative and respectful way. My vision is to create a podcast where each student records a short segment about a topic they feel like an “expert” on (like dinosaurs, dancing, Spider-Man, or helping their little brother) This would help students build confidence and public speaking skills, but also provide families and friends with a special window into each child’s personality and interests. I would also love to include other community member voices on the podcast, such as local leaders, teachers, or family members of my students! Soundtrap is particularly appealing because it’s designed for student use and offers collaborative, cloud-based editing tools. I will use their free training resources and tutorials to learn how to record, edit, mix, and safely share audio content. I hope to develop a new tech skill while building a stronger, more connected classroom community.
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Learning about the tides in the Boston Harbor on a recent field trip! Nov. 2025.
As I am sure my portfolio makes clear, I am very passionate about environmental education! Since I’ve recently moved to Boston, MA, I would love to learn more about how I can connect environmental education to the city. I currently teach at a city school- students walk, bike, or take public transit to school and our school is right downtown. Therefore, I’d love to incorporate Boston’s unique environmental features and challenges into my first-grade classroom curriculum, like the Boston Harbor, urban parks, and city-wide sustainability efforts.
My goal is to foster early awareness and responsibility toward environmental stewardship in my students. Understanding local ecosystems and sustainability practices myself will make lessons more relevant and engaging for my students. I’ll use resources like the Boston Nature Center’s Education Programs (Boston Nature Center Education) which offers ideas and materials for teaching young children about local nature and conservation.
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