It is a pleasure to have you as a class this year. I have heard lots about you over the last three years and I would like to share with you a little bit of my own background.
I come to the classroom with a variety of experiences in a variety of countries. I began my career in museums, working in public programming and outreach at the Chicago Botanic Garden and the Chicago Academy of Sciences. (I love science!) After finishing my Masters in Education, I did my student teaching in a rural community near Melbourne, Australia. From there I moved on to Guatemala where I spent 5 years teaching 3rd grade at the Colegio Americano – a bilingual lab school connected to the Universidad del Valle. I returned to Chicago about 9 years ago teaching for 3 years in a dual language program in Logan Square and the last 6 years here at Dawes (by chance across the street from my great grandparent’s old farm). I have also taught graduate courses on bilingual methods and multicultural education.
I love travelling and encountering new perspectives. Several years ago I travelled to Uruguay on a Fulbright scholarship to aid in the development of new bilingual schools. This summer, we spent three weeks in Nigeria, Spain and the UK introducing my one year old, Sienna, to her cousins.
For me, language is a passion. Programs like TWI, not only hold economic value in a globalizing society, but also show how language is a crucial bridge in forming understanding between cultures.
I come to the classroom with a variety of experiences in a variety of countries. I began my career in museums, working in public programming and outreach at the Chicago Botanic Garden and the Chicago Academy of Sciences. (I love science!) After finishing my Masters in Education, I did my student teaching in a rural community near Melbourne, Australia. From there I moved on to Guatemala where I spent 5 years teaching 3rd grade at the Colegio Americano – a bilingual lab school connected to the Universidad del Valle. I returned to Chicago about 9 years ago teaching for 3 years in a dual language program in Logan Square and the last 6 years here at Dawes (by chance across the street from my great grandparent’s old farm). I have also taught graduate courses on bilingual methods and multicultural education.
I love travelling and encountering new perspectives. Several years ago I travelled to Uruguay on a Fulbright scholarship to aid in the development of new bilingual schools. This summer, we spent three weeks in Nigeria, Spain and the UK introducing my one year old, Sienna, to her cousins.
For me, language is a passion. Programs like TWI, not only hold economic value in a globalizing society, but also show how language is a crucial bridge in forming understanding between cultures.
Vengo al aula con una variedad de experiencias en una variedad de países. Empecé mi carrera en un museo, trabajando en programación pública el Jardín Botánico de Chicago y La Academia de Ciencias de Chicago. (¡Me encantan las ciencias!) Al terminar mi maestría en educación, hice mi práctica en una comunidad rural cerca de Melbourne, Australia. De allí fui a Guatemala, donde pase 5 años enseñado 3er grado en el Colegio Americano – una escuela laboratorio bilingüe de la Universidad del Valle. Regresé a Chicago hace 9 y pico de años. Pasé los primeros 3 trabajando en un programa “dual language” en Logan Square y los últimos 6 he pasado aquí en Dawes School. He dado clases en la universidad sobre metodología bilingües y educación pluricultural.
A mi, me encanta viajar y descubrir nuevas perspectivas. Últimamente he ido a Uruguay con una beca de Fulbright para ayudar en el establecimiento de nuevas escuelas bilingües. Pasamos 3 semanas este verano en Nigeria, España y el Reino Unido con mi hija de un año, Sienna, conociendo sus primos.
Para mí los idiomas son una pasión. Programas como TWI, no solo tienen un valor económico sin no también forman un puente entre culturas diversas que solo un lenguaje común puede construir.
A mi, me encanta viajar y descubrir nuevas perspectivas. Últimamente he ido a Uruguay con una beca de Fulbright para ayudar en el establecimiento de nuevas escuelas bilingües. Pasamos 3 semanas este verano en Nigeria, España y el Reino Unido con mi hija de un año, Sienna, conociendo sus primos.
Para mí los idiomas son una pasión. Programas como TWI, no solo tienen un valor económico sin no también forman un puente entre culturas diversas que solo un lenguaje común puede construir.