Alanna Mazzon

Alanna Mazzon is a kindergarten teacher at an international school in Beijing, China. She holds a bachelor of education degree in primary and junior divisions, with additional qualifications in reading, kindergarten and special education. Alanna is from Ontario, Canada, and has been living and working in Beijing for more than two years. She has worked with children from nursery to Grade 6 and has a passion for education, especially in the early years.

Articles by Alanna Mazzon

• Creating the right classroom environment fit for ELLs

  Wednesday, January 28, 2015

  Something I am constantly looking to improve is the design of my classroom. I question everything that is put on the walls or on the back of shelving — specifically whether it is useful or detrimental to the students who share the room. In my three years of teaching, I think I have rearranged my classroom 30 times, and I am still moving small things here and there weekly.

• Teaching English language learners in preschool

  Wednesday, July 23, 2014

  My first classroom was a class of 2- and 3-year-olds, with more than 80 percent being speakers of a language other than English. It was interesting at first since I had never worked with this many children who weren't English speakers.

• How should we organize a kindergarten classroom of ELLs?

  Wednesday, June 25, 2014

  What is the best way to organize a kindergarten classroom — especially one that is full of English language learners? Is the play-based approach that I was taught the best way? Was a more structured schedule with specific times for math, reading and writing better?