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.