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About the Author
Hello everyone, my name is Mayra Cindy De la Torre. I have been teaching for 5 years now. I am married and have 3 children, my oldest daughter is 14 years old, my middle daughter is 5 years old, and my son is only a year and a half old. I received my teaching credential through Sacramento State University while the BMED (Bilingual Multicultural Education) program was still there. I have done all of my student teaching in Spanish dual immersion classrooms, and I currently teach in a Spanish dual immersion Kindergarten classroom. My research was done in my 3rd grade Spanish dual immersion classroom this past school year 2017-2018.
Working with English learners is a passion of mine. I love helping EL students achieve their goals. Growing up as an English learner myself I know how hard it can be for students. I was always afraid of writing, and reading in front of class because of what my accent might sound like while reading, or how I might not know how to correctly write a word. I have experienced first hand what English learners go through and I want to help students overcome these fears.
Working in a dual immersion classroom I have a variety of language learners. During English weeks I scaffold for my English Learners, and during Spanish weeks I scaffold for my English only students. I find myself always looking for different and better strategies to use that will help my students comprehension skills in whatever language we are working with. So far the students that I have taught have had trouble retaining important information form our readings. I want to improve students comprehension skills, so that they can apply it not only during reading time, but also during writing, social studies, and science time. When I heard that two of my colleagues were signing up for an online Masters program I was interested. Once they told me it would be in innovative learning I was sold. I know how technology engages students and wanted to learn different ways to be able to help my students succeed with reading comprehension using some new technique.
Working with English learners is a passion of mine. I love helping EL students achieve their goals. Growing up as an English learner myself I know how hard it can be for students. I was always afraid of writing, and reading in front of class because of what my accent might sound like while reading, or how I might not know how to correctly write a word. I have experienced first hand what English learners go through and I want to help students overcome these fears.
Working in a dual immersion classroom I have a variety of language learners. During English weeks I scaffold for my English Learners, and during Spanish weeks I scaffold for my English only students. I find myself always looking for different and better strategies to use that will help my students comprehension skills in whatever language we are working with. So far the students that I have taught have had trouble retaining important information form our readings. I want to improve students comprehension skills, so that they can apply it not only during reading time, but also during writing, social studies, and science time. When I heard that two of my colleagues were signing up for an online Masters program I was interested. Once they told me it would be in innovative learning I was sold. I know how technology engages students and wanted to learn different ways to be able to help my students succeed with reading comprehension using some new technique.
Reflections on my Journey
Being at the end of my masters program I feel as if I made the best choice for my students. I have learned so much and my students have better retained information and their comprehension has increased. There were so many tools I had never heard of and now I use them with my students. The innovative learning program has opened up my eyes to new technology that I can use to engage and help my students better retain information. In addition to the new technology tools I learned to use, I also have a better understanding of how to better prepare my students for success in the 21st century. This was not an easy road, but thanks to the support of my colleagues and professors I have made it through. The whole process was accelerated, but the professors were very professional and supportive.
Lasting Learning from the Innovative Learning program
TPACK
TPACK was a new phrase for me when I first started this program. Once we learned more about it then it became clear. It is a balance of technology, pedagogy, and content. It is not enough to bring in technology into the classroom if it’s not meaningful. As a teacher I have to be able to make a connection to the content by using pedagogy skills and by bringing in technology to tie it all together. It is not an easy task it takes time and thought to make it work. Finding the balance is key because if we only incorporate technology without content or pedagogy in mind then it is not meaningful for the students. The same goes if we only incorporate pedagogy and content in isolation. I still struggle to find this balance, but at least I now know there is a balance I am working towards. Thanks to Touro University and the Innovative Learning Master of Education Program for giving me the opportunity to become a better equipped teacher for 21st century learners.