Teachers at Mitchell Team Up to Transform the Pre-K Experience

For Mitchell Elementary Pre-K Teachers Nicole Jones and Melanie Smith, the power of teacher collaboration has transformed their two classrooms into one space where learning and growth thrive. By working together and combining resources, the two have created a unique and enriching experience for the school’s youngest learners.

“The idea to collaborate came after Melanie and I visited the Jandrucko Early Learners Academy a few years back,” Jones said. “They had this amazing classroom setup with rotating stations, and the students were highly engaged. We got back and spent the whole summer brainstorming plans and ideas for a new way of teaching.” 

The ideas included setting up station rotations in each classroom. Students are placed in small groups that work well together and begin at their first station out of six. During station rotations, students have the ability to move between the 2-3 different activities within their station.

“Students are moving from space to space and are able to experience everything,” Jones said. "They aren't forced to stay idle at one activity within their station, but they have the freedom to choose a different activity when they are ready."

Jones told the story of a student who left their pretend play activity to do a writing activity. The student, who struggles with writing skills, began scribbling their name on the piece of paper. 

“This student can barely write their name, but I am watching them – without my instructions – pick up a pencil and try, all on their own, to walk around the room and complete the write-around-the-room activity.” Jones said.

Although students feel like they are just having fun and playing, every station is set up to provide an academic, behavioral or social benefit. 

“We try to make everything be purposeful for what Pre-K guidelines want them to learn,” Smith said. “We make the activities fun, immersive and ‘cutesy’, but whatever they are doing, they are going to be learning something.”

This classroom setup also makes data gathering, one of the most important aspects of the educational experience, smoother for both student and teacher. 

“Before, we would pull them aside and ask them what they know, and they felt like they were being tested,” Smith said. “Now, we have created a system where we collect data and observe their growth WHILE they are immersed in activities. To them, it feels like we are just joining their playtime.” 

Smith also notes that with this way of data collecting, they are able to differentiate for individuals, providing support or challenges as needed.

Through their collaboration, Jones and Smith offer each other feedback and suggestions based on what they observe in each other’s classrooms and what does and doesn’t work well in their own rooms. 

“Having two points of view gives us the best of both worlds,” Jones said. “It’s amazing because we are constantly getting professional feedback, so we are able to improve each other’s experiences.”

“Ms. Jones and Ms. Smith have created a highly engaging literacy and STEM environment for students, and have embedded Texas PreK guidelines and best practices into rich, play-based experiences,” Jennifer Krawczyk, GISD early childhood education coordinator said. “They truly are an exemplary Pre-K team.”