Students in the Chameleon Classroom have been learning about the winter season and reviewing skills they have learned with their teachers and paraprofessionals, Jennifer Carr, Kristi Harley, Danielle Ayers, and Kandi Cleveland.
Each morning during carpet time, students gather around Carr to discuss the day’s date. Together, they clap out the syllables of the month. Then, they put their counting skills to the test as they figure out the day of the month, turning a simple routine into learning with numbers and teamwork.
The students also discuss the day of the week, identifying which days follow others. To make learning fun and engaging, the class sings the “Days of the Week” song to the tune of the “Addams Family” theme song, which helps them remember the order of the days.
Carr sends a student, designated as the “meteorologist,” to look out of the classroom window and report on the day’s weather.
One morning, Carr described what a meteorologist does. “A meteorologist is a person who tells us about the weather,” Carr explained.
That day, the student meteorologist reported the weather was sunny and cold.
“I have to make sure to wear my jacket today,” a student said.
Carr explained to the class that the weather is cold because it is winter. To help them better understand the characteristics of the season, Carr read a book called “The Mitten.”
The story revolves around a young boy who loses his white mitten in the snow. As the mitten rests on the ground, various animals, including a fox, a bear, and a mouse, gather inside it to keep warm.
To make the story interactive, Carr asked the students to pretend to be the animals by holding a paper mitten that had a picture of their assigned animal on the front.
This engaging activity helped students connect more with the story, effectively teaching them about the winter season with the assistance of the Chameleon Classroom educators.
Carr has taught in the classroom for 12 years, specializing in special education. She has been at Jones County Pre-K for four years.
The teacher is married to a Jones County Sheriff’s Office Deputy, and they have two children. Their daughter is in second grade, and their son is a Pre-K student.
“I truly enjoy seeing the growth that comes out of the kids. I try my best to get students what they need. It is a challenge I am always up for. It is my forte, getting in and seeing what I need to do to help students,” Carr said.
Harley, from the Chameleon Classroom, has taught pre-k for 30 years. When she is not teaching, she thoroughly enjoys reading and spending time with her family.
Harley has gained additional experience as an educator by working in an IEP classroom for the past two years.
“My youngest son is a leukemia survivor and had an IEP throughout school, which is what pushed me to want to see education from another angle. As a parent and an educator, I want to be an advocate for children with special needs,” she said.
Harley further shared her reason for becoming a teacher.
“This is where my heart is; it is in education, watching children grow and learn,” Harley said.
Ayers is married and has three daughters, aged 13, 11, and nine. This school year marks her first year as a paraprofessional in the Chameleon Classroom, a decision she made as her daughters are now older and attending Jones County schools.
Ayers has assisted Pre-K students with various activities this school year, including learning the alphabet and teaching them to follow rules and be kind. Cleveland began her journey to become a paraprofessional when her youngest son started school. She initially worked as a substitute at Jones County Pre-K and then accepted a paraprofessional position, where she has been for five years.
Beyond school, she loves crafting and enjoys incorporating it into classroom activities. Her favorite classroom activities are those that allow students to jump, dance, and express their personalities.
“I love any time that involves the kids getting silly and being able to move their bodies,” she said.
Cleveland emphasized that connecting with the Chameleon Classroom is just as important as teaching.
“Learning is not so much about getting it right all the time but knowing that somebody can get on the kids’ level and let them know they are not alone in anything. It is rewarding when I help a child feel comfortable in their own skin,” she said.
