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Learn More About Joshua's Experience:

ACT In 1982 I scored a 26 Composite on the ACT. In 2004 I scored a 274(out of 300) in the Illinois Basic Skills Exam for teachers. I have helped students study for the ACT and other Standardized test with good results. Other professional Qualifications: At Chicago State University, I was working towards a BA in Bilingual Education K-9. Due to circumstances, I didn't finish the coursework needed to be certified, but I did manage to earn enough credits to graduate with a Bachelors in Liberal Arts. The coursework I didn't finish was: Internship, Student Teacher, Teaching Methods in Humanities, and Reading Evaluation. All other Teaching Methods and Education courses I completed with a 3.6/4 Average. The teaching Methods in Humanities and Reading Evaluation I took twice, but had to withdraw in the middle in each due to personal issues. So I have exposure to both. I have passed the Illinois State exams for teaching including: Basic Skills, Content Area (K-9), APT (K-90, and Spanish. I passed all on the first try with high scores in each. I am currently working at an Alternative High School as a Para-professional. My job entails helping students in their work, tutoring when necessary to bring their skills up to level, and helping them improve their study habits. chess I have been playing chess since I was eight years old. I joined the Curie High School chess team in 1978 and quickly rose to be the Captain and first board of the team. I also served as the President of the Chess Club. After graduation, I went to Robert Morris College which afforded me the time to coach the new Curie Condors. The team went to finish fourth in the city beating the powerhouse team of Kenwood Academy. During my time at Curie, I was a volunteer at the Back of the Yards Branch of the Chicago Public Library which also had a chess club. I followed that model over the years by founding and promoting similar clubs at other branches throughout the city. I was chosen by Mayor Daley's Department of Human Services to be one of five chess teachers for four summers running. We taught chess to children at one of the Departments neighborhood offices daily and then ran a fast tournament to find a winner for High School and Elementary. These winners competed for a scholarship the following week. I have been active as a club director, promoter, organizer, and president. I served on the Illinois Chess Association for 20 years, one term as the Secretary. I was the editor of the Illinois Chess Bulletin for two years during which it receive National Awards for Best State Magazine for circulation under 1000. I become the 2000 Illinois Open Reserve Champion with a perfect score of 6/0. My highest over the board rating attained is 1895. I have directed hundred of chess tournaments and events. I also have done many other things in regards to chess. I have written articles, sold supplies and merchandise, produce tournament bulletins, and coach school teams. For 10 years I made a living teaching chess to private students - most of which were children and schools. A few of my students and teams achieved State and National Honors and Titles. elementary (k-6th) At Chicago State University, I was working towards a BA in Bilingual Education K-9. Due to circumstances, I didn't finish the coursework needed to be certified, but I did manage to earn enough credits to graduate with a Bachelors in Liberal Arts. The coursework I didn't finish was: Internship, Student Teacher, Teaching Methods in Humanities, and Reading Evaluation. All other Teaching Methods and Education courses I completed with a 3.6/4 Average. The teaching Methods in Humanities and Reading Evaluation I took twice, but had to withdraw in the middle in each due to personal issues. So I have exposure to both. I have passed the Illinois State exams for teaching including: Basic Skills, Content Area (K-9), APT (K-90, and Spanish. I passed all on the first try with high scores in each. I am currently working at an Alternative High School as a Para-professional. My job entails helping students in their work, tutoring when necessary to bring their skills up to level, and helping them improve their study habits. ESL/ESOL I was born to Mexican parents in Chicago. My first learned language was Spanish. It was so until I went to school. Then English became the main focus. I am the eldest of eight children so I come from a big family. This being the case, I have had relatives that have struggled with English and which have come to me to help them learn it. I have also helped others learn English through my volunteering at the Chicago Public Library. At Chicago State University, I was working towards a BA in Bilingual Education K-9. Due to circumstances, I didn't finish the coursework needed to be certified, but I did manage to earn enough credits to graduate with a Bachelors in Liberal Arts. The coursework I didn't finish was: Internship, Student Teacher, Teaching Methods in Humanities, and Reading Evaluation. All other Teaching Methods and Education courses I completed with a 3.6/4 Average. The teaching Methods in Humanities and Reading Evaluation I took twice, but had to withdraw in the middle in each due to personal issues. So I have exposure to both. The coursework for the Bilingual Education Certification include the classes needed to be a certified ESL instructor. I am in the process of attaining that now. I have passed the Illinois State exams for teaching including: Basic Skills, Content Area (K-9), APT (K-90, and Spanish. I passed all on the first try with high scores in each. I am currently working at an Alternative High School as a Para-professional. My job entails helping students in their work, tutoring when necessary to bring their skills up to level, and helping them improve their study habits. I also have the additional duties of aiding and guiding the ESL learners that come to our school. I use traditional, online, and non-traditional methods to help each student as a individual. I also serve as an oral and writing translator for the school in Spanish. GED In 1982 I scored a 26 Composite on the ACT. In 2004 I scored a 274(out of 300) in the Illinois Basic Skills Exam for teachers. I have helped students study for the ACT and other Standardized test with good results. Other professional Qualifications: At Chicago State University, I was working towards a BA in Bilingual Education K-9. Due to circumstances, I didn't finish the coursework needed to be certified, but I did manage to earn enough credits to graduate with a Bachelors in Liberal Arts. The coursework I didn't finish was: Internship, Student Teacher, Teaching Methods in Humanities, and Reading Evaluation. All other Teaching Methods and Education courses I completed with a 3.6/4 Average. The teaching Methods in Humanities and Reading Evaluation I took twice, but had to withdraw in the middle in each due to personal issues. So I have exposure to both. I have passed the Illinois State exams for teaching including: Basic Skills, Content Area (K-9), APT (K-90, and Spanish. I passed all on the first try with high scores in each. I am currently working at an Alternative High School as a Para-professional. My job entails helping students in their work, tutoring when necessary to bring their skills up to level, and helping them improve their study habits so they can earn a High School Diploma general computer I have earned an Associates Degree in Data Processing from Robert Morris College. In various positions I have been responsible for programming Mainframe and PC applications. I also have worked extensively with Word, Word Perfect, Powerpoint, Excel, and the Internet. My expertise was in Database management, but I am only familiar with newer database software like Access since I left the field a while back. I still work with various software applications, creating macros, and generating reports. grammar I have earned a minor in Writing from Chicago State University. My Grade Point Average for this minor is 4.0/4. Among the classes taken was Writing Non-Fiction and Proofreading. I am also a published poet, author of short fiction, and chess journalist. I edited the Illinois Chess Bulletin for a two year period. During my editorship, the magazine was recognized Nationally for Best State Chess Magazine Circulation Under 1000. I am editing the new Literary and Art magazine for The Phoenix Experience Alternative High School where I am employed. In various jobs, I have been responsible for writing newsletters, business letters, and memos. I am a very active reviewer at Urbis - an online writer's workshop. Some of its members frequently ask me to proof their work for grammar. study skills I have helped many of my students improve their study habits without their knowledge. I have done this using areas that the students have interest. With chess, I spend time teaching them a concept. After they understand the concept well enough, we go through how they should go about "practicing" and "learning how to use" their new knowledge. This is where they learn how to study. I have done similar with writing, crochet, math, music, and science. My professional qualifications are as follows: At Chicago State University, I was working towards a BA in Bilingual Education K-9. Due to circumstances, I didn't finish the coursework needed to be certified, but I did manage to earn enough credits to graduate with a Bachelors in Liberal Arts. The coursework I didn't finish was: Internship, Student Teacher, Teaching Methods in Humanities, and Reading Evaluation. All other Teaching Methods and Education courses I completed with a 3.6/4 Average. The teaching Methods in Humanities and Reading Evaluation I took twice, but had to withdraw in the middle in each due to personal issues. So I have exposure to both. I have passed the Illinois State exams for teaching including: Basic Skills, Content Area (K-9), APT (K-90, and Spanish. I passed all on the first try with high scores in each. I am currently working at an Alternative High School as a Para-professional. My job entails helping students in their work, tutoring when necessary to bring their skills up to level, and helping them improve their study habits.