天美影视 DC NEWS

Teacher Spotlight: Creating Classrooms of Belonging with Ms. Emily Vega

Ms. Vega | 4th Grade | Lead Academy

For our September spotlight, we stopped by Ms. Emily Vega鈥檚 vibrant fourth grade classroom, where she practices every day to create a sense of belonging and 天美影视. As a member of the 天美影视 DC family for six years, Ms. Vega has continually nurtured connections with her students and colleagues, fostering a classroom where every child feels seen, heard, and celebrated.

Emily knew she wanted to be a teacher early in her career. 鈥When I was a student in New York, I really loved a couple of my teachers. They made me love being at school, love reading, love writing and all these things,鈥 shared Ms. Vega. 鈥I think back to my 4th grade teacher. She really shaped my life and believed in me. And so when I was thinking, post grad, what did I want to become? What did I want to do? I knew I wanted to be someone like her. The Capital Teaching Residency was the perfect opportunity.鈥

Now, as a fourth-grade teacher herself, she helps bring out that same love and inspiration in her students. During our visit, Ms. Vega鈥檚 class was engaging in their daily 鈥淜id of the Day鈥 activity, featuring a student named Kyleigh. Kyleigh shared an object special to her, a camera, and her classmates eagerly asked questions, providing space for genuine exchanges and connections. Following this, the class celebrated Kyleigh, contributing to a poster highlighting her achievements and how she embodies the school鈥檚 core values: Lead, Love, and Learn. In an incredibly thoughtful gesture, Kyleigh picked classmates who hadn鈥檛 yet had the chance to share or ask questions, ensuring everyone had a voice in the celebration. It was a beautiful example of inclusivity and empathy in action.

Ms. Vega explains the importance of this daily ritual: 鈥Kid of the Day is an activity that is special to my classroom. Students can share a piece of themselves with the class through show and tell, learn from one another and celebrate the accomplishments of their peers. Over the school year, 鈥楰id of the Day鈥 morphs into 鈥楧J of the Day鈥 where students share a song that is special to them, 鈥楾eacher of the Day鈥 teaches the class a unique skill, “Gamer of the Day” gets to lead us in a class game, etc.

Ms. Vega began this tradition during her time teaching first graders, and she quickly realized that older students also benefit from leading and sharing with their peers. 鈥When I moved to teaching fourth grade, I knew I had to bring this activity with me. It’s become a daily reminder of the importance of creating space for students to share, listen, and celebrate each other.

Students realize that they not only learn from their teachers but can learn so much from each other,鈥 Ms. Vega continues. 鈥This moment during the day is a unique time where students are the center of attention and get to share a bit about themselves with their classmates, which helps create a sense of 天美影视 every single day.

By making this simple yet profound activity a part of her daily routine, Ms. Vega has cultivated a classroom culture where belonging thrives and students uplift one another every single day.

 

Want to help inspire future learners? Learn more about joining the Capital Teaching Residency.听

Posted on September 24, 2024 in Community

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