We Did It!

I am so pleased to publish this post. I feel very proud to announce that after a few years of hard work Maya Angelou Elementary has finally achieved an A grade. If you would like to know how schools where graded in 2006-07 school year, go to the website for School Grades. This website will let you know school grades as well as let you see a report on how the grades where calculated for each school. Good Luck!

GUATEMALA

I just recently came back from my trip to Guatemala City, I went to visit my aunt, uncle, cousin, cousin in law and their new baby girl Izel. I had not been to Guatemala for quite a while. I had forgotten how beautiful my country is. I spent ten wonderful and marvelous days. My family and I really needed these days to reconnect. I just wanted to share some of the moments we spent in my beautiful country.

Vamos A Cuba

On a recent article read on education week, I read about how Miami Dade County Public School District asked the 11th USA circuit Court of appeals permission to remove the book “Vamos a Cuba” or “A Visit to Cuba” from school libraries. I don't know how any one feel about this topic, but quite frankly I am fed up. I think that School District is wasting tax payer money by expanding this matter. I think that the discussion of removing the books has been expanded for over a year or two. I feel that if we allow the ban of a book just because it is not "truthful" to what is happening in a country, then many geography books will be eliminated from our school shelves. I think that school district should leave the decision to parents, whether they want their kids to read certain books. It is my opinion that they should just stop wasting money appealing this matter. We need raises and it's not happening, maybe they should do their job right the first time and evaluate books more carefully before they hit our bookshelves and stop throwing away tax payer money from now on. What do you think?

To Promote or Not Promote

I just finished taking a course on Data Driven Decision Making. In this course I learn practical ways to communicate information with others. In the school that I work in, I am always being asked by beginning Third grade teachers, what are the guidelines in promotion for our grade level besides FCAT. I did not know what the answer was so I decided to conduct some research on the matter. Having learned the rules of the game I decided to create a flow chart to better communicate the process. I further think that this Flow Chart can also be used for Parents as we communicate the process, options the students have if a student does not score a level 2. This can also be use by administrators and reading specialists to clarify information for beginning teachers who work with third grade students so that they can see the different opportunities available to be promoted besides FCAT. I feel that the chart clearly explains the process of promotion/retention along with the options students have for meeting promotion criteria.

(I used a program called smartdraw to make my flowchart).

Something To Think About

Dear Mr Jesus

As teachers we are put in the position to fill many roles in a child's life. To some we become their mother, father or guardians, brother, sister and best friend. In turn we also see these children as our own. Therefore we feel the need to protect them. This year I was faced with the reality that one of my students was being physically abused by her stepfather. I had not been previously exposed to this situation, but I knew I needed to help her. I found this video and thought that I should share it with all my fellow colleagues and those who want to make a difference in a child's life.

LOOKING FOR NEW IDEAS

I am eager to start applying the new blogging skills acquired in my Internet K-12 online class. This is my first time creating a blog, and as you can see I am beginning to get the hang of this. As an educator I understand the importance of technology in the classroom. This course has enlightened me with new knowledge that I am planning to use to better meet my students needs.
I have thought of creating a class Current Event blog. If any one has any suggestion please feel free to post. My grade level is 3rd grade and I will be teaching Reading and Language Arts.

Marc Prensky says that students are Digital Natives while most educators are veritable Digital Immigrants who were not born in to technology and will always keep their accents. Well, this is my attempt to loosing the accent.

Thank you and any feed back is most appreciated.