Ka uska Gil

UVA Wise. 03/2025

Reflec on on my teaching years:

During my years of teaching, I will say that I, overall, have met my goals. According to my own classifica on
of students taking a second language class I have kept the spark on the ones that come mo vated for a
new language and have the desire to learn and understand other cultures. I also have turned on the light
of curiosity in those who were not mo vated and only took the class to fulfill a gradua on requirement.

I strongly believe in rela onships, and today I am proud to say that I have built great rela onships with
students, parents and whole families during my teaching years, and that facilitates the learning process in
all ways.

We can say grades are a good indicator, but students that created memories while learning, students that
will be back in your classroom with a smile next year, family’s gra tude and apprecia on for the work you
did are the real evidence that you are doing a great job.

Assessments:

I remember once, I gave my students the 1st semester big assessment or midterm exam, it was my first
year of teaching and the assessment was previously created by the department years before. It was a
disaster, even my straight A students failed or had low grades, I panicked, went to talk with my principal
before publishing grades. He asked me a few ques ons. Are you sure you went over the content? Why do
you think that happened? What do you want to do? I had an idea, it would give me extra work but if
worked it will prove It wasn’t on my students or me, it was something else. I was convinced that the
delivery method wasn't the best, so I changed it, I created exactly the same assessment, same ques ons,
same structure, same length in another pla orm and gave my students the exam again, I couldn't believe
the results, my kids did great, me and my principal we were proud of the outcome and for me, realizing
that I have the ability to understand something was happening gave my confident in the work I was doing
and I could be a great teacher. That day I learned that assessment needs to be personalized, that one
assessment says nothing if is not given at the right moment on the right way, that collabora on doesn’t
mean you have to replicate what other teachers do, it means to follow the same pathway but probably on
a different pace or different methods.

Lesson plans:

Lesson plans are a headache, we all know that they tend to change year to year even in the same district,
understanding that those changes are meant to be for improvement, I always try to keep them simple for
me, I for my students.

No doubt the most effec ve are the ones that include a fun ac vity, cooking, cra ing, games, watching
videos, music or going outside. Fortunately, a second language class always allows for all those ac vi es.
Grammar lessons will always take more me and effort than vocabulary lessons, a combina on of these 2
will facilitate the process of learning, I personally take my me without frustra on, each class is different,
each student is different, and I always do my best, we are all humans, and I treat my students and myself
as that. Going with flow keeps you and the students away from frustra on and going without frustra on
keeps you and the students away from failure.

Balance:

I consider my self very resourceful, and I think if is boring for me to be teaching the same way every day,
I can’t imagine how boring could be for a student (teenager) to be doing the same thing every day, so yes,
I go from games, to hot ques ons, posters, scavenger hunts in and out of the classroom, go to the library,
videos, worksheets, on line pla orms, work in groups, pairs and/or individually, interpersonal,
presenta onal and interpreta ve ac vi es and assessments and more, all to keep us ac ve and aware of
what we are doing.

Communica on with the students, parents or guardians:

I men oned already that I have a great ability to build rela onships. I think I show myself as I am, people
no ce that and that leads to trust.

From my syllabus, every year I open the door to my parents/guardians to contact me for good or not so
good reasons. Some mes they cross the door, some mes they don’t, but they know it is always open.

I encourage my students to respec ully advocate for themselves, grades, late assignments anything, don’t
be afraid, come and talk, we will figure something out.

Another thing I do, and has an incredible outcome, is to give posi ve feedback. I text a few parents every
day, to say things like “she did great today”, “he came on me”, “her grade is improving, be proud”
parents/guardians appreciate that, and students will know you also see the good things happening in the
classroom.

Homework:

I am not a very homework teacher, we work a lot in the classroom, and today, with all the extracurricular
ac vi es some kids have, I feel their lives will be miserable if they must be doing homework a er soccer
or church. Life is to enjoy, the same way I want to enjoy my home, I believe my parents and students would
love to have some me to share experiences during the day and reflect on what worked out and what
needs to be done be er in the future days.

Classroom Management:

I am very strict in my classroom, I set my expecta ons the first day, we literally make them together, it is a
discussion we have the first or second day, we take me to hear what they expect too, and we make a big
poster together, it is a great idea to get everyone involved, and no one could say they didn’t know, because
we all did it together.

I am very sarcas c, in a good way, that is why I love high school because that is how they communicate.
So I make a lot of jokes and goofy faces, and they know I am kind of complaining about some behaviors
but not making any drama, they will laugh and stop the behavior immediately.
I don’t take any comment or behavior like a personal thing, I will ask for the behavior to stop, and if that
doesn’t work, I will give the consequences immediately, no bad feelings a er, because it is not personal. I
have learned that within the me I remember my first year thinking all my students hated me because of
the things they will say or do. Thanks God I learned that I was suffering. HAHAHAHAHAH

Staff development and training:

Let’s be honest, most of the me we think some of the PD are useless and with no sense, but then, you
see yourself retrieving something you learned in some of those boring PD’s your district made you do, and
is there when you understand that there is always going to be something useful in those mes, and start
to get involve and not taking for granted all the efforts behind those trainings.

Lesson to learn, find the useful experience on each PD, they all have one.