Halloween Jeopardy: Trivia for a Spooky Fun Time!

Hello! My name is Maria. I have been a Texas bilingual educator for over 25 years. My Master's Degree is in Educational Diagnostics. Currently, I work in Special Education as a bilingual Educational Diagnostician. I evaluate students with disabilities and ensure they receive a free and appropriate public education. For the past two years, I have also been teaching students ESL online. I am comfortable in the online setting. I believe in the multisensory approach when teaching in order to meet the needs of all learners. I also believe all learners should have the opportunity to make connections to prior knowledge and have an enjoyable experience in the classroom. 

Here on Outschool, I teach Spanish courses for all ages. I help students make connections with English in order to learn Spanish. I believe students learn more efficiently if they can make sense of new concepts in Spanish by using their English knowledge as a foundation. Liberal translations will be used throughout all courses. We compare and contrast the letters and sounds in both English and Spanish. We practice proper pronunciation every step of the way. Once students learn how easy it is to put syllables together to form words, they will be reading in Spanish in no time. My classes focus on Reading and Oral Language as students acquire vocabulary, grammar, spelling and capitalization and punctuation skills. We will also learn about Spanish speaking countires and their  varying cultures. Spanish made easy is my goal!

I also have classes that focus on Social-Emotional Learning (SEL) from the Empowering Education curriculum. I believe in the explicit instruction of self-awareness, self-management, responsible decision making, social awareness, and relationship skills. I want to equip students with strategies in order to adequately face the social-emotional challenges of today.  I have 30 courses in both English and Spanish for students K-8 that address the following (but not limited to): 
1. Apologizing
2. Self-Compassion
3. Respect
4. Equal vs. Fair
5. Self-Talk
6. Thoughts, Behaviors, Emotions

I am a mom of two college age students and four furry siblings. I work full time in a rural school district and enjoy working online in my spare time. When I'm not working, I like to cook and clean. Cooking healthy meals and cleaning my home makes me happy. I'm also an avid sewist and I like to make handbags, cosmetic bags doggie accessories and quilts for my family and friends. I also enjoy buying old furniture and flipping it by sanding, painting and replacing hardware in order to make a one of a kind, repurposed piece of furniture. Lately, I have been doing research in order to make my own scented candles, which I love to have burning in my home. I am a life long learner! I look forward to meeting you an your child.