Tag: teacher

Welcome Ms. Briseyda!

Leave a comment

We would like to introduce you to Ms. Briseyda Ceballos! She is working with Aventuras as a Lead Teacher and we are so happy to welcome her aboard. Her credentials, professionalism and passion for education and the Spanish language make her a great fit for our program. Learn more about her here, in her own words:

70880743_733172527131313_7080116788452655104_nI was born in Michoacán, Mexico and have lived in Nebraska for about 14 years. I’ve lived in Lincoln for two years now and plan to graduate from UNL with a double major in Spanish and Child, Youth, and Family Science in May 2020.

My family lives in Grand Island. As a child I spoke only Spanish until the age of 7 and now as an adult, most of my communication involving immediate and extended family relies on Spanish. While maintaining the language was not an activity I had to put effort into growing up, due to being fully immersed in the culture and using it on a daily basis, it’s become something that I now consider a necessity. My short-term language goals are always focused on increasing vocabulary (including knowledge of regional differences) to the highest extent, while my long-term goals are focused on being able to do every aspect of my future career in both languages. Academically and professionally, I am interested in child and adult education, literature/linguistics in Spanish, and research focused on family dynamics in ever changing social contexts.

I volunteered during a semester in SCC’s Adult Literacy Program where I first realized how much I enjoyed teaching. My ideal career post-graduation would consist of education and community involvement.

 

Welcome Ms. Leslie!

Leave a comment

We would like to introduce our newest team member, Ms. Leslie Estrada! She has been working with us this summer as a teaching assistant and will take on a Lead Teacher role this Fall. Leslie has completed significant coursework in child development and is a very bright and kindhearted individual. Her love for children has led her to aspire to be a pediatrician. Let’s get to know her in her own words:

1010980_515411875178929_441037065_n

I am originally from the State of Mexico, Mexico and I have been living in Nebraska for 10 years in a small town called Newman Grove.  My family consists of my parents and my two younger sisters.  When I am home, I speak mostly in Spanish.  This allows me to use my Spanish since I communicate in English most of the time.

I am a pre-Med student at the University of Nebraska and will be graduating this December, 2019 with a double major in Biology and Sociology.  I enjoy working with children and in the future, I would like to do so by going into a health career focusing on pediatrics.  I have been working for 1.5 years as a research assistant at the Nebraska Center of Virology at UNL.

In my free time I enjoy doing puzzles with my father and younger sister.  I also enjoy going on walks around Lincoln and going to the movies with my sister.

Welcome Ms. Elvira!

Leave a comment

IMG_0766Please join us in welcoming Ms. Elvira Marciano, the newest addition to our team! Ms. Elvira will be teaching at Aventuras during our summer program and we are so happy to have her. She comes to us with valuable education and experience which she can pass on to our little ones. Get to know her here in her own words:

I’m a native Spanish speaker originally from Huehuetenango, Guatemala. I speak three languages being: Spanish, English, and Q’anjobal (one of the 21 Mayan languages spoken in my country). I attended the University of Nebraska-Lincoln, where I obtained a Bachelor’s degree in Education and Human Sciences last December 2018. As part of my preparation to become a Spanish teacher, I completed my professional practicum at a primary school in Spain and my student teaching at an American school in Belgium. During the last three months, I have been teaching Spanish at Yutan High School, Nebraska.

One of the things I have learned from myself after living in different places, is my interest in experiencing and learning from different cultures. I also found out that language can play a major role when experiencing those cultures. When we have the ability to communicate with people different from us, we are more likely to understand and learn from them. I strongly believe that introducing multiple languages to children not only opens up numerous opportunities for them in the long run, but it also helps their cognitive development. For these reasons, I’m passionate about working with young people.

During my spare time, I like to spend time with family and friends, play football (soccer), dance, and try to pass French I.

 

Happy Teacher Appreciation Day!

Leave a comment

Today is National Teacher Appreciation Day as part of National Teacher Appreciation week and with that we’d just like to give a shout-out to our Lead Teacher, Ms. Karina who has been doing an awesome job this year with our little ones. Thank you!

“It takes a big heart to teach little minds.”

 

Introducing Maestra Karina!

1 Comment

51608102_374395329781300_2525191752139145216_nWe would like you to meet Karina Saavedra-Mendez. She is the Lead Teacher for our morning preschool class and has been teaching with Aventuras since opening day. Maestra Karina is an engaging educator and a pleasure to work with. Please join me in getting to know her in her own words:

Hello! My name is Karina Saavedra-Mendez and I am from Usulután, El Salvador and have been living in Lincoln for 20 years.  My family consists of my husband William and I, along with our three sons and one daughter-in-law, Axel, 23, and his wife, Kiera, 23, (who live in Overland Park, Kansas) Fabricio, 22 (who lives in Lincoln), and our youngest, Thiago, who is 3. My family speaks both English and Spanish at home, and I think that it is very important for children to be bilingual, because it opens up new opportunities for children as they become older.

52486660_575776256218011_1625170119627898880_n

Before becoming a teacher at Aventuras, I was a Health Tech for Lincoln Public Schools for 13 years and worked at Clinton Elementary, even though I am not working as a permanent health tech, I am still working as a substitute when I can.

51623632_302963930415014_4704167637951709184_n

I still work for LPS as a Spanish interpreter and have just entered into my 16th year in that line of work. For the past 15 years, during tax season I have worked at H&R Block as a Tax Specialist, and it is something that I look forward to every year.

I also volunteer at our church for teaching Sunday school to preschool aged children and have been doing so for around 8 years now. In my free time I enjoy going to church and participating in church activities and I also enjoy going to and finding new coffee places around Lincoln to relax. I hope you were able to learn a little about me and I am excited to be on this journey with you and your children at Aventuras!