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Introduction to the Public Library
My mother took me to the public library every week when I was little. She loves to read. I learned to love to read. This is a positive influence in my literacy development. I was able to participate in summer reading programs and get a taste of all types of literature. Reading became my hobby. (http://www.castroville.com/castroville-public-library.html) -
Joined UIL Story Telling
In the first grade, I joined the Story Telling team for UIL competition. This positive experience allowed me to develop my listening, organizational, and social skills. I loved to tell stories, but I had to learn to listen to someone else tell it first, but eventually, I learned to remember the details and relay the information to the judge in an entertaining way. -
Published My First Book
In the 2nd grade, we published our first books. Then we mailed them to the 4th grade class. They read our books, reviewed them, and awarded each of us with a Panther Award (our school's version of the Texas Bluebonnet Award). Because the fourth graders were so positive about our books, it gave me confidence. I looked forward to writing and sharing my stories with others. -
Fell in Love With a Banned Book
I read The Color Purple in high school, and I fell in love with banned books. Our school had not ban the book, but my teacher shared a list of books that had been challenged or banned somewhere in the United States at some point in history. I read The Color Purple from that list and learned more about history than in any history class. This book is one of the recommended texts I suggest to my current students every year. I am so glad my high school did not ban this influential book. -
Succeeded on My Own in College
I had to learn to read, write, and communicate on my own and for myself in college. My higher education taught me to be independent but that my education would not end with my diploma. I earned the confidence needed to succeed in the real world by learning to communicate professionally, reading as much as I could for knowledge, and writing in a professional manner. I felt prepared when I left ASU. -
Importance of Academic Vocabulary
At my first job, I was asked to teach Inclusion English. My eyes were opened to the necessity of learning vocabulary. I saw students struggling with content because they were stuck at a 1st grade reading level. Without the familiarity of words, they would be unsuccessful at all subjects because words were everywhere. I used to keep a list of academic vocabulary with me on my clipboard. Even though I only focused on five words a unit, I knew they understood those five words. -
Certified to Teach English
After a year in Inclusion English classrooms, I knew my purpose was to be an English teacher. I loved the content. I loved the challenge. I challenged the ExCET in English and taught my first English class in the fall of 1999. By the year 2000, I was teaching 8th grade through 11th grade English. I was in heaven feeling like joys teaching students how to connect with literature and express themselves. -
Recognized "Big Brother" Allusion
I watched the reality TV show Big Brother and immediately understood what "Big Brother" meant because I remembered reading 1984 in Mrs. Jacob's 11th grade Honor's English class. I also understood that a well-read person enjoyed many allusions that others did not. It made me feel like I knew a secret that others did not. I made a positive connection with the show and continue to use it as a reference in my classroom when teaching "allusion" to students. -
Teaching to the STAAR Test
Raising the level of rigor in the classroom by initiating an End of Course exam to students that ultimately decides whether or not he or she graduates is good in theory. All classrooms should guarantee a quality education to its students, and all students should be accountable for certain knowledge prior to graduation. However, I lost a bit of autonomy in my classroom, and I miss it. STAAR is a negative influence. It sucked the fun out of learning. -
Obtaining a Literacy Initiative Grant
In 2012, San Saba High School was issued the Texas Literacy Initiative. We have attended workshops, summer institutes, local professional development, and online courses to help with the implementation of the grant. It has helped a countless number of people ranging from birth to adult in our town learn to read and write better through the distribution of daycare backpacks full of books, summer reading projects, adult ESL classes, and a local GED program. (http://ipsi.utexas.edu/events/) -
Working to Become a Dual Credit English Teacher
In the summer of 2015, I started graduate school to obtain a Master's in Curriculum and Instruction, Professional Education and English, so I could one day teach dual credit English classes at San Saba High School. I want to give the high school students a small, yet protected, glimpse of college. I hope that taking dual credit English will be their first step to obtaining a college degree. Without ASU's new graduate program, I would have never dreamed of going back to graduate school. -
Texas Public Education Failed This Student
R.R. is a remarkable, likable, and dependable young man in my class. Although he struggles with reading and testing, he can communicate well verbally. He has successfully held many jobs in town and many leadership positions in school clubs and organizations, but he will not graduate from SSISD because he has not passed the STAAR in at least three of the five areas tested. He does not qualify for special services, so he will fall between the cracks. The STAAR crushed his dream and my heart.
