#prof dev

Jose Marti, Cuban poet and freedom hero

The measure of Shira Korn's fellowship was simple: a conversation. For the first time ever, she conducted parent/teacher conferences this fall without the presence of a translator.

Shira teaches at Community Health Academy of the Heights in New York City. The school is made up of 93% Latino students and of 34% ELL students and yet most of the teachers do not speak Spanish. She used her FFT grant to participate in Common Ground International, a Spanish immersion program in Costa Rica that improves educators' language skills and cultural understanding of Latino culture and makes learning more accessible for Latino students and their families.

"As I got off the plane in San Jose, I was met by a Taxi driver who asked me if I spoke Spanish. “Un pocito,” I replied, holding my thumb and my index finger together to indicate the littlest bit. On my return journey, I traveled by public bus and the man next to me asked if I was from Mexico after speaking to me about my travels. Besides improving my Spanish, I have become more sensitive to Latino culture and developed an understanding of the insecurity associated with interactions with unfamiliar material that will help me support my students, ELL and otherwise, in their study of Physics."

In addition to her successful interactions with parents, Shira applies her fellowship to student interaction. as well, including:

Hanging pictures in her classroom of inspirational quotes in Spanish and English taken during her fellowship to increase conversation her experiences;

Integrating stories of her struggles to use language into lessons about problem solving in Physics

Making a word wall with both Spanish and English definitions of words and requiring all students to learn and use vocabulary in both languages

Writing syllabus in both Spanish and English

Here's some of the latest feedback for our workshops:

In-depth Understanding of the Common Core State Standards

The presenter was phenomenal!  Please come back to our school!

She was very knowledgeable and passionate in her presentation!

Writing as It Relates to the Common Core State Standards

Excellent! Very Knowledgeable!

Very knowledgeable!

Job well done! Thank you for your time and cooperation.  You have enhanced my teaching skills towards writing.  

Awesome Presenter!

I believe this is a lot of information to take in at one workshop. However, It was great workshop!!

Mathematics as it relates to the Common Core State Standards

Provided excellent modeling strategies!

This presenter was not only well prepared but engaging and affirming.

A pleasure being professionally developed on the Math Core Curriculum Standards.

Extremely engaged! Very informative! Excellent presenter.

Great job!!

Phenomenal Presenter and Presentation!

Great PD!

Excellent Facilitator!!