Inside My Classroom
Building an ofrenda
High school Spanish teacher Dianne-marie Cotto of World Journalism Preparatory in Queens has her class create an elaborate ofrenda (or altar to the dead) to help them better connect to the Mexican celebration El Dia de los Muertos.
Request a selfie
Kindergarten teacher Samantha Shekian created a “request a selfie” station to give students the chance to request a photo of themselves and the work of which they are proud. Then she sends the photo to their parents.
Sending 'happy mail'
A 4th-grader teacher in the Bronx sends "happy mail" to let her students know that their hard work and effort is noticed and appreciated.
Put-ups and put-downs
School librarian Cynthia Turnquest Jones teaches young students to recognize “put-ups” (positive language) and “put-downs” (negative language) as part of a restorative circle.
Bobbleheads of U.S. presidents
Michael Frank, a history teacher at the HS of Environmental Studies, has bobbleheads of most of the U.S. presidents in his classroom to make the content come alive.
Books in English and Spanish
ENL/ELA teacher Eva Dejesus divides her library, which has books in both English and Spanish, by genre. "Students start in their native language, because we know that development of the first language supports development of the second," she says.