Randi Muehlen, 1st Grade, Elderberry Elementary

Spotlight: Classroom Management and Engagement, Kagan, Early Literacy Strategies, ECRI, Vocabulary and Comprehension with Challenging Texts, WFTB, Imagine IM Math, PBIS, and SEL.

I have been teaching in the Ontario-Montclair School District for 19 years and am proud to serve as a first-grade teacher at Elderberry Elementary. My teaching philosophy centers on meeting the individual educational needs of every child and providing the instructional strategies, support, and encouragement necessary for each student to reach their highest potential.

I believe that academic success and character development go hand in hand. Through PBIS and a strong focus on positive character traits, I strive to create a safe, respectful, and inclusive classroom where students learn to be responsible, kind, and productive members of their classroom and community.

My instructional focus is on building a strong foundation in early literacy through high-quality, challenging texts with an emphasis on vocabulary and comprehension. I incorporate ECRI strategies to strengthen phonics and word analysis skills and use WFTB to develop students' writing abilities. I also value collaborative learning and regularly incorporate Kagan strategies to encourage student engagement, communication, and meaningful academic conversations.

In mathematics, I enjoy engaging my students in Imagine IM Math through a variety of hands-on and collaborative strategies. I strive to make math fun, accessible, and exciting while helping students develop confidence as mathematicians and see themselves as capable problem-solvers.

Ultimately, my goal is to inspire students to develop a genuine love of reading and mathematics while building the academic skills, confidence, curiosity, and character they need to become lifelong learners.