Embracing Innovative Classroom Practices: Take Five with Charlene Clay, a Special Education Teacher at Rudolph Learning Center

When she began her CPS journey almost 30 years ago, Ms. Clay was a substitute teacher at Rudolph. After just a day in this role, she described the school community as her “first love” and was inspired to become a full-time educator. 

Ms. Clay is known for stepping outside the standard curriculum to embed creative, immersive learning experiences into the classroom. These include Rudolph’s Strip Mall project, which teaches students about Consumers and Producers as they turn their classroom into a bustling marketplace selling items like seeds, pots, cookies, chips, crackers, lemonade, and tea to the entire school. This hands-on experience culminates in the students acting as both producers and consumers, using their earned money for real-world outings to McDonald's and a local corner store.

Learn more about Ms. Clay and her classroom below!

What are your greatest goals for your students?

Teaching life skills is one of my biggest goals. I like to think of the long-term and plan a curriculum that allows our students to reach some type of functional independence, whether it be learning to hang up their coats and book bags on their own, or learning about kitchen and stove safety. With this, we include innovative and hands-on activities, like our Rudolph Strip Mall, to promote community-based learning and critical skills like money management. 

What is your favorite thing about teaching? 

My favorite part of teaching is setting tailored goals for each individual student’s needs, and eventually watching them reach those goals and experiencing their growth throughout the school year. I enjoy collaborating with my SECAs and partners at Rudolph and working as a team to ensure the success and progress of our students. I also appreciate receiving messages from past students who reach out to let me know they still remember the skills we learned together. 

What is key to being a successful special education teacher? 

To be a successful special education teacher, you must have the heart and patience to work with students daily. At the beginning of each school year, I remind my students that our school is a place for the three L's: love, laughter, and a lot of learning, which has helped me lead my classroom successfully. While our days can be challenging, the outcome is always rewarding. 

Do you have a message for your students and families for the end of the school year and beyond? 

Continue to strive to be the best that you can be! Continue working on those skills that you’ve learned throughout the school year. I also encourage our parents to continue their children’s learning at home and help push them to practice the skills they’ve learned in the classroom.  

What’s something your school community might not know about you?