November

My research focuses on integrating grammar across the curriculum by making it an explicit and consistent practice. I am embedding weekly grammar lessons into the spelling homework by creating a choice board of spelling activities for students to select from each week. After each new writing unit, I will update the choice board to reflect the latest grammar lessons. Through this approach, I aim to strengthen students' foundational skills and help them become more confident and precise in their communication. Students support one another by reviewing each other's writing and notebooks, which nurtures resilience as they practice giving and receiving constructive feedback. This process also fosters a sense of belonging, as students see their voices valued within our classroom community.

Changing how I correct homework has transformed our routine into a more playful and engaging learning experience. While it might not seem like traditional "play," having students take on the role of "teacher" as they correct their homework with a partner fosters a sense of enjoyment and ownership. Previously, my aide or I would handle corrections, which offered little reflection for the students. Now, each morning, students show me their completed work, I mark it in my homework log, and they proceed to review it with a clock partner. They read their responses aloud, discuss their answers, and seek help from me or an answer key. This daily practice builds accountability, enhances communication, and encourages collaborative problem-solving. It aligns with the Pedagogy of Play by giving students a choice in how they engage with learning and fostering meaningful connections to their work. I've also noticed reduced missing assignments as students support each other and feel responsible to their partner daily. The only homework I review and leave comments on is their reading homework.

Fun Friday has become a crucial part of our classroom culture, offering students hands-on STEM activities in a screen-free, play-based setting. Each week, they negotiate, create, and problem-solve, building respect for each other's ideas and strengthening a sense of community in my classroom. I've noticed that students naturally change who they play with each week, encouraging friendships and collaboration within my classroom. While Fun Friday is a consistent part of our routine, it's tied to responsibility: a visual timer on the board tracks minutes lost due to disruptive behavior, helping students connect choices with consequences. This approach reinforces accountability, empowers self-regulation, and shifts the responsibility for meeting expectations onto the students, aligning with the playful learning philosophy.

I believe playful learning lives in my classroom, and I aim to find more ways to bring choice and creativity into my students' learning environment.

LOVE that you are incorporating this into grammar which can often be so dry and hard for the kids to really grasp. Making learning fun and interesting is always our goal but I love that we are actually adding real "play" back into what we do! I like your fun Friday idea. I would love to hear more about the logistics of it and how the day actually looks becasue I would love to give it a try!

Amber

I really like how you have passed over the accountability to your students. They seem to really be enjoying this opportunity! It also allows you more flexibility and time to look closely at their reading homework because you have given your students responsibilty for their own work (which I'm sure they really love)! -Jaime

I love the idea of having students work with a clock buddy to check homework.  I also love the idea of a choice board for spelling.  I agree with you that your playful learning lives in your room- Joann