Movement and Engagement in Kindergarten with Paula Dudgeon

03/09/25 • 35 min

20 Minutes of Teaching Brilliance (On the Road with Trust-Based Observations)

In this episode, Craig Randall is joined by Paula Dudgeon, a seasoned kindergarten teacher from Holy Redeemer in Marshall, Minnesota. Paula shares her extensive teaching experience, the importance of fitting well within a teaching role, and her journey in kindergarten teaching. They explore the significance of movement in learning, the effectiveness of calendar time activities, and engaging students through active participation. Proximity control, formative assessment, immediate feedback, and differentiation are highlighted as key strategies in Paula’s teaching methodology. Craig and Paula also discuss the observation process and the value of supportive, growth-focused feedback.

Get in touch with Paula here.

Get in touch with Paula here.

Previous Episode

Trust and Relationships to Foster a Positive Learning Environment with Susan Anderson

In this episode, Craig Randall interviews first grade teacher Susan Anderson. Susan, who started her career later in life after adopting two children, speaks on the value of building trust and relationships with students to foster a positive learning environment. The conversation covers her approach to formative assessments, differentiation, behavior management, and creating engaging classroom experiences.

00:00 Introduction

00:37 Meet Susan Anderson

00:51 Susan's Journey to Teaching

02:57 COVID Challenges and Overcoming

06:59 Building Trust with Students

14:34 Formative Assessment Practices

29:37 Behavior Management Strategies

33:34 Closing Thoughts

Next Episode

Building Thinking Classrooms with Emily Welu

In this episode, Craig Randall interviews Emily Welu, a dedicated math teacher at Holy Redeemer School in Marshall, Minnesota. Emily shares her innovative teaching strategies, including building thinking classrooms, using story arcs for lesson planning, and creating a career wall to connect math to real-world applications. The conversation delves into the importance of teacher-student relationships, engagement techniques, and Emily's experiences with trust-based observations.