Educational Insight

Mission Statement
To study African slavery and its influence in the Caribbean through interviews, indigenous art, dance and works of literature

My family migrated to the United States when I was 3 years old and family traditions provided me with a safe haven to maintain my native language. My educational experiences through classrooms and workshops have definitely enriched my capacity to teach effectively. In addition, my personal experience as a native Spanish speaker has also prepared me to assist those students new to our country and the mainstream culture, where currently more than 50% of my students are Spanish dominant.

I’ve always held a fond love for reading and this habit continues to this day in and out of the classroom. All of my educational experiences have been in a traditional classroom; however, the desire to learn in a nontraditional classroom is something I have always hoped to experience.

Through this grant I had the unique opportunity of speaking and interacting with this community of artists, an experience that will provide me with an understanding that goes beyond the pages of a book. To be submerged within their culture and become an integral part of their world was an experience that could only build on my ability to be a better teacher as I transfer this passion of learning on to my students.

As an educator I have always emphasized the importance of higher learning seeking creative ways to find information. This grant provided me with the resources to make a difference for myself as well as my students. As teachers we must continuously strive to be positive role models in the community. By spending my summer wearing the shoes of a learner, I will give reverence to the art of education. This experience will pay homage to the statement that: “learning is a life long process that can be exciting and rewarding.”

Through the perseverance of my family, I was given an opportunity to develop academically yet maintaining my individuality. I learned by discovery, which fostered independent thinking. Children should be given the opportunity to experience and celebrate who they are and what they can become. Learn concepts that are dictated by the curriculum yet afford the student with opportunities to expand creatively on the topics that interest them in their lives. Experience a positive educational experience that will motivate them toward self-initiated experiences. Through this project I can continue to offer students the opportunity of a child-centered learning environment and give them a reason to get to school early and leave late.