Hello:) My name is Jacqueline Aguilar and I am a senior at the University of South Florida. I was born and raised in Chicago,IL and moved to Florida about 7 years ago. I been wanting to be a teacher since I was a little girl. I would always play "teacher" with my siblings, cousins, and friends. In high school I had a teacher that was very passionate about teaching. Her enthusiasm for teaching rubbed off on me and motivated me to go to college to be a teacher. I went to Edison State College my first two years of college. I wasn't sure what grade I wanted to teach, I just knew I wanted to be a teacher. I took the three education classes required to get into a education bachelor's program. I had to do observation hours. I went to an elementary, middle, and high school to do my observation hours. When I observed at the elementary school I was placed in a kindergarten classroom. I loved being in the elementary school the most! I met a kindergartener named Samar that really enjoyed having me there. I told her that I was going to be a teacher and she assured me saying that she thinks I will be a great teacher because I was very helpful to her. Her words were very motivating because I saw the need that students can have. I realized I can be the one to teach them and guide them on how to be better students.
Now,I am part of the Urban Teacher Residency Partnership Program. This is my second year in the program. This program has helped me learn so much more about myself and discover how passionate I truly am about teaching. My first semester in this program I interned in a 5th grade classroom at Mort Elementary School. I really enjoyed working with 5th graders. The teacher I worked with taught reading/writing. My first semester I focused on community building in my classroom. I have learned that without community in a classroom there is no respect or motivation to learn with/from your peers. We had such a great community in our 5th grade classroom! My students were so eager to learn from me and each other. My second semester in this program I interned at another title one school in the area, Witter Elementary School. I interned in a Kindergarten/1st grade ESE classroom. I really enjoy working with students who have exceptionalities. They taught me how to be selfless and put their needs before mine. My focus this semester was reading and writing. I was able to co-plan and teach lessons this semester. My students motivated me to go to school everyday and learn to be a better teacher for them and my future students.
I am currently doing my final internship in the same ESE classroom. This year the class is just first grade. I feel very blessed to continue working with the same students as I did last year. I have seen them grow so much (not just in height) academically and socially. My focus this semester is science and math as well as taking the lead in planning and teaching. I am very excited to see what this year holds!
Now,I am part of the Urban Teacher Residency Partnership Program. This is my second year in the program. This program has helped me learn so much more about myself and discover how passionate I truly am about teaching. My first semester in this program I interned in a 5th grade classroom at Mort Elementary School. I really enjoyed working with 5th graders. The teacher I worked with taught reading/writing. My first semester I focused on community building in my classroom. I have learned that without community in a classroom there is no respect or motivation to learn with/from your peers. We had such a great community in our 5th grade classroom! My students were so eager to learn from me and each other. My second semester in this program I interned at another title one school in the area, Witter Elementary School. I interned in a Kindergarten/1st grade ESE classroom. I really enjoy working with students who have exceptionalities. They taught me how to be selfless and put their needs before mine. My focus this semester was reading and writing. I was able to co-plan and teach lessons this semester. My students motivated me to go to school everyday and learn to be a better teacher for them and my future students.
I am currently doing my final internship in the same ESE classroom. This year the class is just first grade. I feel very blessed to continue working with the same students as I did last year. I have seen them grow so much (not just in height) academically and socially. My focus this semester is science and math as well as taking the lead in planning and teaching. I am very excited to see what this year holds!