Learning With Lado

My journey into teaching began with a keen focus on 3rd-grade students. However, as time progressed, I found my niche primarily within the 5th-grade classroom, although I also embraced the unique nuances of teaching middle schoolers. Further enriching my experience, I've had the privilege of serving as a clinical instructor for graduate students from CUNY, guiding first-year teachers as they embarked on their educational journeys.

At the core of my teaching philosophy lies a profound commitment to English Language Arts, anchored in anti-racist and inclusive principles. I believe that education should not only involve rigorous analysis and critical literacy but also celebrate and foster creative expression. This approach enables students to explore and articulate their thoughts and feelings through diverse mediums, enriching their understanding and appreciation of different perspectives. By integrating critical literacy skills with creative outputs, I aim to cultivate a classroom environment where students feel empowered to question, interpret, and shape the world around them through both words and art.

One of the most luminous moments of my teaching career was when I had the privilege of moderating a session with the esteemed Mexican-American author, Sandra Cisneros. As a young Latina girl, I was profoundly moved by Cisneros' "The House on Mango Street," a novel I read at the same age as the students I teach, so it really felt like a full-circle moment for me. As both an educator and poet, I had the joy of guiding these young minds through a comprehensive poetry unit. The culmination of this endeavor was the session where my students, with a mix of trepidation and pride, shared their original poems, engaging in heartfelt dialogue with Cisneros herself. It's moments like these that underscore the unique magic and impact of our profession, where literature doesn't just tell stories but actively shapes lives.

Yet to be added

Beyond the confines of the classroom, I am an ardent lover of the arts. My passions include painting, illustrating, writing poetry, reading. and I've dived into digital art to enhance the aesthetic allure of the educational resources I craft for my fellow educators.