The document introduces Marilú Acosta Vélez, an English teacher of 24 years who teaches at Miradero II Elementary School in Puerto Rico. She has a bachelor's degree in English with a minor in education and a master's degree in education. She teaches English to 4th, 5th and 6th grade students and integrates technology into her lessons. Her teaching philosophy draws from various approaches including essentialism, progressivism, humanism and constructivism. She provides strategies for teaching writing to students with disabilities, such as using visual outlines, shorter lesson segments, and computers for drafting.

2. Who am I? I am Marilú Acosta Vélez. I am a daughter, mother, wife, friend and a professional . I love to teach and cook (specially baking). I have been an English teacher for 24 years and was for 1⅟ 2 year a School Director (Escuela Sabanetas Mani). I did a bachelor’s degree in English with a Minor in Education (RUM). After many years and as a promise to my parents I completed a Master’s degree in Education (University of Phoenix, Summa Cum Laude).

3. Where do I teach? Miradero II Elementary School. It is located at 108 Road Km 4.3 Miradero, Mayag ϋ ez. It is a small rural school that has a very big heart! ESCUELA MIRADERO II

4. My School Administration Office Central sidewalk First, Second, and Third Grade Sixth grade and Spanish Lab. Fifth and Fourth grade English classroom and Lab. and Special Education classroom

5. My Classroom A good place to be! Students have named my classroom “New York” because it is cold and English is spoken here.

6. What do I Teach? English to 4 th , 5 th , and 6 th grade students. Students have their English class in the morning and in the afternoon technology is integrated in the learning process of a second language. I also teach practicing future teachers of several universities as a Teachers Mentor.

7. I am in charge of “Escuela de Idiomas”. Also I integrate in my English class “Good Interpersonal Relationship Workshop” I love being a teacher! This is what I was born to be!

8. Teaching Philosophy Eclectic would be the teaching philosophy that would best describe me as a teacher. Essentialism -There is a common core of knowledge that needs to be transmitted to students in a systematic, disciplined way. Progressivism - Education should focus on the whole child, rather than on the content or the teacher. Learning is active, not passive. Humanism -Personal freedom, choice, responsibility. Achievement motivation towards highest levels. Control of own destiny. Child centered. Interaction with others. Constructivism -Learner actively constructs own understandings of reality through interaction with environment and reflection on actions. Student-centered learning around conflicts to present knowing structures.

11. Description of My Approach and Strategies Warm hello and big smile. Informal conversations. Humor used in class. Needed tools are provided for their work. Cooperative learning. Making class pertinent and enjoyable. Use of technology to enhance learning. “ It’s a big world out there” Learning should be fun.

12. Teaching Students with Writing Disability Learning more about writing disabilities in an inclusion classroom and how to work with children with disabilities will help the regular educator improve their teaching. It is helpful for the regular educator to understand the disability, common modifications and methods of helping the student as well.

13. Learning Disability Accommodations Are necessary to help students learn despite their disabilities. Level the playing field. Are not intended to give students with disabilities an unfair advantage over other students. Accommodations and modifications are simply changes in teaching methods that allow learning disabled students to learn.

14. Here are five strategies : Writing buddies -The writing buddy may be a peer editor. It is very empowering for the writing buddy as well. More time for guided practice -The teacher may need to revise the lesson and reteach in order to ensure that they have mastered a technique before moving on to independent practice.

15. Visual outlines -boxes for the different parts of the project; it helps learning disabled students who are visual learners become more organized. Shorter lesson segments -Students who are given one part at a time will not feel so overwhelmed, and in the end, they will be able to complete the entire project. Use of computers for drafting -shows the student which sentences are fragmented, and where the grammatical and spelling errors are in the document.

16. It is the supreme art of the teacher to awaken joy in creative expression and knowledge. Albert Einstein, 1940

17. Methodology Lesson plan Level-Elementary (Grade 5 th and 6 th )

18. Lesson Plan Student’s Writing Task Hand-out will be given Vocabulary words read out loud by teacher Using dictionary students lookup definitions. Word search (spelling and vocabulary recognition skills) Choose favorite topic (creative writing) Create first draft applying organizational patterns (sentence structure) Positive feedback Read paragraph in front of class Accommodations for Student’s with Learning Disabilities Hand-out will be given Vocabulary words read out loud by teacher. Provide clear and specific instructions Vocabulary words simplified (flash cards or ppt) Using dictionary students lookup definitions. Word search (spelling and vocabulary recognition skills) Choose favorite topic (creative writing) Create first draft applying organizational patterns (sentence structure) Have student dictate their own ideas (teacher, classmate, and use of computer) Give additional time Positive feedback Read paragraph in front of class

19. Instructions

20. Air _________ Oceans _________ Animals ________ Oxygen _________ Care _________ People _________ Clean _________ Plants _________ Earth _________ Preserves _________ Energy _________ Resource _________ Fuel _________ Reuse _________ Habitat _________ Soil _________ Home _________ Water _________ Litter _________ World _________ Name____________________ Mrs. Acosta Date____________________ Earth Day April 22 W A T E R O J V Q S S H J S A D J E E R F V A W O R L D C L E A N B L I T T E R C U H K I S L H S C U Y S O Y T E R O N U O C E M C A N I N A L S E L E L T E V R E S R R P K E J R I A C A R E O H U L G C Y O X Y G E N F N Y P S T N A L P M N

21. Air ________ Oceans ________ Animals ______ Oxygen ________ Care _______ People ________ Clean _______ Plants ________ Earth ________ Soil _________ Energy _______ Water _________ Home________ World_________ Litter ________ Name____________________ Mrs. Acosta Date____________________ Earth Day April 22 W A T E R O J V Q S S H J S A D J E E R F V A W O R L D C L E A N B L I T T E R C U H K I S L H S C U Y S O Y T E R O N U O C E M C A N I N A L S E L E L T E V R E S R R P K E J R I A C A R E O H U L G C Y O X Y G E N F N Y P S T N A L P M N

22. Example: Visual Accommodations Air Animals Care Clean Earth Energy

23. Name_________________________________ Date_________________ Mrs. Acosta Group___________ English MY CHRISTMAS VACATIONS My Christmas vacation was_____________. I went to__________ _______________________________. I__________ to be with my family for the holiday. I received___________________presents. The gift I liked the most was____________________. I did not like so much_____________________. I am_______________________that school began today!