An invitation

Hello, reader:

The Practice Teaching experience has culminated. In this reflective portfolio, you can find the overall experience with reflections that sum up how I felt during the Practicum. On the right side of the screen, you will find the menu of selection with the content of the reflective portfolio. I invite you to check each page and leave your comments about what you read. Thank you so much for viewing my blog and I hope you enjoy the outcome of the experience as I enjoyed this journey towards my professional formation as an English teacher in Puerto Rico. 

TEACHER SELFIE!

Mr. De Jesús enjoying the experience!

Scholastic Book Fair 2015

The Scholastic Book Fair was brought to the school for two days to promote reading and the English language. The Book Fair was displayed in the Cooperating Teacher's (Mrs. Aponte) classroom and students were invited to pass by the English classroom throughout the day on both days. The Book Fair was in the school on Thursday, April 9 and Friday, April 10, 2015. We were happy to see students buying books and showing an interest to reading. 

Book Fair Display

Poems of the day

As part of the Unit 10.5 (Create!) and Unit 12.6 (Poetic Justice), the initial activities of the class will include a poem to read and appreciate the diverse themes and styles of different poets. In the pictures below, I included the two poems for April 14 (We Real Cool by Gwendolyn Brooks) and April 15 (Dreams by Langston Hughes).

Poems of the Day

Poetry word walls

For April and May, both grades will cover the topic of Poetry. The units are titled Unit 10.5 - Create! (10th grade) and Unit 12.6 - Poetic Justic (12th grade). In this picture, you will see a list of 23 words related to poetry and examples of poetic devices. Students will engage in writing workshops by writing different types of poems for a lap book. The vocabulary serves as an introduction to poetry. 

Basic poetry concepts

Examples of poetic devices

Word Walls (Complete)

These are the word walls with the complete vocabulary used in both units for 10th grade (Unit 10.4 - My World) and 12th grade (Unit 12.4 - Then and Now). 

Word wall of Unit 10.4 - My World

Word wall of Unit 12.4 - Then and Now

Word Walls

In order to keep my students on track about the topics we are covering, I prepared word walls for both grades. The word walls below have vocabulary used in the units 10.4 (My World) and 12.4 (Then and Now). Both units focus on informational texts and writing non-fiction texts.

Vocabulary of Unit 12.4: Then and Now

Vocabulary of Unit 10.4: My World

English Week 2015

English Week was celebrated in the week March 16 - 20. The theme of English Week 2015 was: Diversity in English Promotes Unity for Future Generations. The activities done to commemorate English Week were the following: Word Search, Poster & Dictionary Competitions, Charades, and Spelling Bee. The vocabulary was related to diversity in language, cultures, and people. We enjoyed celebrating diversity in the English language!

Bulletin board promoting English Week (Prepared by 12-1 students) 

Display of posters celebrating diversity in English

A firm believer of EQUITY.

A Valentine's card for Mr. De Jesús

Today was Day #1 of Valentine's Day celebration at the Alfonso Casta Martínez High School. Students and teachers alike wore shirts made for the celebration (the shirt had a small owl hanging from a branch and holding a polka-dot read heart and, tied to the branch, the phrase "Owl Always Be Your Friend" hung from little strings); there was a sell of chocolated-covered strawberries (I enjoyed two big 'ol strawberries) and students were sending letters and gifts to their secret admirers (as it happened during my class with one of my students). But, the most heartwarming moment was when one of my students gave me a homemade Valentine's Day card (shown below). I did not expect to receive anything at all because I started teaching on February 9th, but this gesture was so beautiful! I could only thank the student endlessly for the detail and the hardwork put in this homemade Valentine's card (who has one of my favorite video game characters: Yoshi). 

It is the small details that make the teaching profession a worthwhile experience. Happy Valentine's Day!

A student made this Valentine's card for me.

The Poet in You: The presentation

                      

This is the presentation used for the mini-workshop The Poet in You given to 7th graders at the Juan Ponce De León Middle School in Humacao, Puerto Rico. The resource used for this presentation is a document titled Poetry Writing Activities - A Standards Approach prepared by Prof. Hilda Clemente Sosa and Prof. Marina Ramos Rosado. You are free to use the presentation strictly for educational purposes. 

The Poet in You: A mini-workshop about poetry writing

As part of establishing a sense of community between the teaching community, the Practice Teaching course requires students to participate in activities related to teaching. On Friday, January 30, 2015, I gave a workshop to 7th graders at the Juan Ponce De León Middle School in Humacao, Puerto Rico. The workshop focused on poetry writing. I was cordially invited by fellow Practice Teachers and colleagues Ms. Kimberly Thomas and Mr. Abner Pérez with approval of our Practice Supervisor Dr. Nilsa Lugo Colón and authorization ofrom our Practice Teachers Mrs. Sara Troche (Cooperating Teacher at the aforementioned school) and Mrs. Sonia N. Aponte (My Cooperating Teacher). As resource for the presentation, I used a document titled Poetry Writing Activities - A Standards Approach by Prof. Hilda Clemente Sosa and Prof. Marina Ramos Rosado and it was handed to me by Prof. Carmen M. Torres Rivera, professor at the English Department of UPRH.

I gave the workshop to three 7th grade groups who have an incredible mastery of the English language and are knowleadge on the art of poetry writing. The workshop focused on three contents: review of vocabulary, activities on poetry writing and share alouds. The review was skipped quickly because the students impressed me with all they knew about the topic. Afterwards, we went right into writing time with activities in which they followed a scheme and wrote their poems. There were: personification poem, 5 W's poem, simile/metaphor poem, stair poem and using the five senses. The workshop went smoothly and the students excelled with beautiful works of poetry. I must say: I was really amazed by the potential these students harbor. The Juan Ponce De León Middle School in itself has an environment of community learning and the students are eager to learn. Ms. Thomas and Mr. Pérez are outstanding Practice Teachers who have made a connection with their Practice Groups and I have no doubt they will be excelltn English teachers. As for my experience, it was refreshing and welcoming because this is what I aim for: establishing community between English teachers in which they interchange and participate in activities for the improvement of teaching English in the Puerto Rican context. 
Here are some pictures of the workshop The Poet In You. I invite you to visit the blogs of my fellow colleagues Ms. Kimberly Thomas and Mr. Abner Pérez to get an insight of their experiences as Practice Teachers.
Disclaimer: To comply with privacy regulations, the students' faces have been covered.

Ms. Thomas (left), Mr. De Jesús and Mr. Pérez (center) and Mrs. Troche (right)

Ms. Thomas (left), Mr. De Jesús (center) and Mr. Pérez (right)

Poem of the Week (2)

This week I recommend the poem Masks by Shel Silverstein. Shel Silverstein is one of my favorite children's literature author whom is best known for his drawings and quirky style that captives children and adults like. However, Silverstein did not think twice to dwell in mature themes like the one in the poem Masks. As you will read, the poem touches on acceptance and self-love. The characters in the poem search for blue unbeknownst they have what the other is searching for. A poem with a sad undertone, Masks leaves wondering why is it so difficult to be who we are and understand that happiness comes from within in order to pass it along to those in need. 

Poem of the Week (1)

This is the very first Poem of the Week, a weekly literary recommendation of poetry for the soul. 

This week I recommend Song for a Dark Girl by Langston Hughes. The poem tragically narrates the death of a black young woman, victim of a lynching. A grim reminder of the racist acts at the beginning of the 20th century in the United States, Song for a Dark Girl certainly expresses how segregation truly is an enemy of humanity.

Song for a Dark Girl
Langston Hughes

Way Down South in Dixie
(Break the heart of me)
They hung my black young lover
To a cross roads tree. 

Way Down South in Dixie
(Bruised body high in air)
I asked the white Lord Jesus
What was the use of prayer.

Way Down South in Dixie
(Break the heart of me)
Love is a naked shadow
On a gnarled and naked tree.

For more details and interpretations of the poem, click HERE. 

No need to worry, parents...

Practice Teaching has begun!

Mr. De Jesús will teach you now.

Coming to a school near you...

01/15/2015