Leaving Woodrow, North Dallas High School Bound

I will be teaching at  North Dallas High School beginning of the 2012-2013 school year. I will leave this blog up as a memorial to the amazing ESL Advanced class of 2009-2010. I love Woodrow but needed to make a change because the ESL population at Woodrow does not support a full-time teacher. I have great memories at Woodrow. So many  young people are written on my heart.

A Tribute to my ESL Advanced Class, 2009-2010

The 2009-2010 school year has become, by far, the most memorable year in my teaching career. The students in my ESL advanced class have been together for two to three years. We have become quite a family. The three new students who transferred in this year entered into what they described as “a circle of love.” This year we went beyond the usual stuff we do in class and were able to enjoy together many extra curricular activities as well.

It all started when a bunch of us went on a Saturday to celebrate a Turkish Cultural Day in Coppell. Other notable events we participated in were a fashion show where six of the students were featured, a Hispanic Youth Symposium reunion at SMU on a Sunday evening, an Christmas party where the kids honored me with a surprise birthday party, field trips with the Pathways mentors on a Saturday to the Holocaust Museum and a Thursday evening to Univision TV station, a BBQ at one of the mentor’s house, a birthday party in a park one Friday evening to celebrate the twins birthday, a presentation after school of the HYS program to eager candidates, participation with Ms. King’s dancers one Sunday afternoon at the Dallas Zoo, interactive workshops with the Shakespeare Group, a field trip to the IMAX theater and Science Place, a party to honor Alejandra’s parents, a Pathways mentoring end-of-the year dinner, and participation in the Cinco de Mayo Assembly. That plus peer -tutoring every morning in our room.

Every day many of these students would come in early to our room to participate in peer-tutoring, stop by during every break and hang out until right before the tardy bells rang, eat lunch together in our room, and drop by after school to give me a hug and say goodbye. Next week will be our final days together as a class. I have seen these fine young people go from knowing little to no English to taking Pre-AP and AP content courses. I just discovered that nine of them passed TAKS English, and this was the first time they had ever taken TAKS. I feel so honored to have gotten to know and teach them. They are written on my heart forever.

Field Trip to Holocaust Museum

On Saturday, February 28, 2010, Pathways to Opportunities mentors sponsored a field trip to the Holocaust Museum. The students and chaperones were touched deeply

by the suffering many Jewish people endured during WWII under the Nazis. It was a sobering experience; tears were shed. After the visit, we had a long visit with Mr. Jacobs, the museum's founder and Holocaust survivor.

The students hugged Mr. Jacob's and many purchased his autobiography which describes what it was like growing up Jewish in Nazi Germany. Mr. Jacob's main message is never forget and at all cost never give up your freedom which is priceless.

Woodrow Fashion Show Featuring the ESL Students

On November 20, 2009 Woodrow had an Alcohol and Drug Prevention assembly and BUZZ Free Promises Presentation sponsored by Safe and Drug-Free Schools. Part of the program featured a fashion show where eight of the ten participants were our own ESL students. Alejandra, Yadira, Edith, Leticia, Neiva, Yesenia, Jose, and Cesar were so beautiful. Thank you, Ms. DeLeon, for helping these great kids to participate. I am so proud of them all.

Before School ESL Peer-Tutoring

Life is about helping others. My motto is to love the Lord my God with all my heart and out from that love, love others. Every morning starting an hour before school begins, my room starts filling with ESL students. My wonderful assistant, Ms. DeLeon, is always present to help the children with their work. After a few minutes, the room is often filled to overflow capacity with all sorts of peer-tutoring, project work, etc. going on. Students who know a little English are always willing to help the new arrivals who know so little and are so needy. Often I step back in wonder as I behold the “good work” before me.

WORLD AFFAIRS COUNCIL CELEBRATES TURKISH REPUBLIC DAY

On Saturday, October 17, 2009, Ms. Shaw and I took some of our ESL students to the WORLD AFFAIRS COUNCIL TURKISH REPUBLIC DAY which gave our students a taste of Turkish culture. Students tasted Turkish tea and sweets and listened to enthusiastic teachers who traveled to Turkey last summer. We were also treated to a genuine Turkish feast for lunch. The students excitedly talked about what they had learned of Turkey on the ride back home.

SMU Hispanic Youth Symposium

December 6, 2009 , Ms. Shaw and I took seven ESL students to SMU for a reunion of high school students who participated in the Hispanic Youth Symposium held at SMU last summer. Following this, we attended SMU's annual Celebration of Lights Christmas program. Although it was damp and cold, we enjoyed the music and one another as we sang Christmas carols.