Hola my name is Itzel! I’m a heritage Spanish speaker and graduated Western Washington University with a Bachelor’s in Spanish and a Bachelor’s in Latin American Studies. I earned my Master’s in Teaching Secondary Ed from the University of Washington.
As a student, hardship made school hard. The teachers who helped me feel seen and supported helped to get me back on track and inspired me to be a teacher to provide that same support and care that students may need to help them be...
Hola my name is Itzel! I’m a heritage Spanish speaker and graduated Western Washington University with a Bachelor’s in Spanish and a Bachelor’s in Latin American Studies. I earned my Master’s in Teaching Secondary Ed from the University of Washington.
As a student, hardship made school hard. The teachers who helped me feel seen and supported helped to get me back on track and inspired me to be a teacher to provide that same support and care that students may need to help them be successful in academics. Students should see their own identities, cultures, and interests in the work they’re engaging in to make meaningful connections and feel empowered to bring their own knowledge and expertise into the space.
In my undergrad, I worked with Western’s Employee Language Program, where I taught the faculty and staff Spanish. I did small group workshops based on student level and I worked 1:1 with participants. In our group workshops, I used slides and lesson plans filled with a variety of activities to practice skills based on the needs of the participants. 1:1 sessions were tailored to the goals of the participants, and ranged from having everyday conversation to assigning light readings to hold discussions on comprehension of the reading.
I’ve been a Spanish teacher in public schools for 3 years now. I taught middle school Spanish Immersion for almost a year and have been teaching Spanish at the high school level for 2 years (Spanish 1, 2 and Spanish for Heritage Speakers). I use slides and lesson plans and include a variety of games, practice activities, webquests, videos, conversation, art, and more to practice a range of skills in relevant and authentic contexts.
It’s important that students feel safe and judgment-free with language learning. I can tailor lessons to levels, interests, and needs, so any suggestions/ resources I can be given will help me to create a lesson to best fit the student. I’m happy to answer any questions or scheduling inquiries as fast as I can
