In the morning, I either am there when Ms. Snodgrass arrives or sometimes before. I start getting the classroom ready for the students. We ensure that the classroom is set up for a safe environment to come into. When she arrives, we get materials out for the day, if necessary, and turn off some of the overhead lights, turning on two soft lamps in the corner. She tells Alexa to play soft meditating music and we eagerly wait for the students. This is my favorite part of the day. As each student arrives, they are greeted with a smile and a good morning greeting from myself and Ms. Snodgrass, every student. Sometimes we are greeted with a hug and almost always a smile.

          She creates a calm, safe classroom environment that is accessible to ALL students, even those with special needs. Her classroom is set up for success and I will probably steal some of her style. She has the students’ desks arranged in a horseshoe style with three desks up front one of the desks separates the other two students. The carpet, which is mainly used for Heggerty or Bear Hug Breathing, is in front of the desk and the television. She ensures the physical arrangement is appropriate to the learning activities. Students contribute to the use or adaptation of the physical environment to advance learning, by transitioning smoothly, and changing their seating by moving to one of the small group tables when their classmates are distracting them, or if they are just having small or big feelings. She makes effective use of physical resources, including computer technology. The television is up front, and every student can see it even if they are sitting at another table. She does not have an official desk. She has a standing desk that uses when teaching. Otherwise, things are all filed neatly in different cubbies that she has. Every morning, one student passes out all the iPads, he loves this job, and every afternoon when their group is called, they each go back and plug them in. It is a warm, inviting room full of laughter and sometimes tears, and that’s okay, because mostly it is full of support from myself, Ms. Snodgrass, and the students.