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I’m about to share a video that literally took over 60 hours to produce, direct and edit. I would love to take the credit but all I did was supervise, pull my hair out, shed some tears, yell and laugh throughout the entire process. My first year teaching theatre and the first year our k-8 school ever had a theatre class. Producing a play was not going to happen but that’s for another post.  But then an idea hit me.

All of the students were asked to get into groups to lip sync a song. One group of boys chose Step by Step by New Kids on the Block. I love that song! They did such a great job that I offered them extra credit if they redid the video like the one in the original music video by NKOTB. Two boys, Kevin and Elijah took on the challenge. The other boys in the group also pitched in when they were needed. (THANK YOU TO NKOTB for making a fabulous song that my middle school students love as well!)

Miraculously other theatre and non theatre students pitched in to help with the filming, stage setting, and choreography. Even two former students who had come to visit me were giving tips during parts of the filming. We even thought we had our fifth member but he sprained his ankle. Tsk Tsk, Daniel. (Just kidding, feel better!)  However, you might still see him if you closely look at the step scene. (Thank you, Luis Z. and Nathalie D. for helping me there!)

Our vision was bigger than our time, our patience, and our abilities but it came to fruition the night before my last day of work.

Thank you for not giving up! Thank you, Kevin, Elijah, Jorge, Joaquin, Nathalie, Mrs. Breiter, Mr. Mojica, Pepe, Luis Z. Mrs. Gutierrez, Ms. Garcia, Mrs. Hernandez, Mrs. Calis, Mrs. Desimone, period 6, period 2, period 1. A special thanks to our principal, Ms. Arango for letting me teach Theatre in our school.

Here is our reproduction of Step by Step.

All music and singing is from the original group, New Kids on the Block.

If you happen to know the musical group, let them know about this video.

Every year my students inquire about my Christmas list from Santa. Every year I want to tell them what’s really on my list: a date with Shemar Moore, $1,000 gift card to Nordstrom, Barnes and Noble, Ulta or Amazon.com, and the raise that Miami Dade County Continue reading “Gifts Every Teacher Wants from Students”

Yesterday, my workplace had an “emergency meeting” which prompted me to write yesterday’s post. You can read it here.

Was there a repercussion for speaking my mind?

You tell me.

Every time there is a vote, the UTD steward has the voting take place at the cafeteria at one of the Continue reading “UTD Bullied Me At My Workplace”

Hold on to your special needs child’s IEP because what I’m about to tell you is going to blow you away.

It’s not a rumor. It’s not about distorting lies.

It’s about you knowing the truth.

I’m getting many complaints from teachers all over Miami Dade County Public Schools who are fed up with Continue reading “Misuse of an Inclusion Teacher”

I’m hooked on the CBS show Scorpion. It’s about four gifted adults who work with the government. Supposedly it’s based on a true story. As a young girl, I was given the “gifted” label. I had one of the best gifted teachers in Miami Dade County Public Schools. Mrs. D didn’t just have us think outside of the box, we had to forget there was a box and just think!

When I became a teacher, I had the amazing opportunity to teach gifted students at Southwood Middle School in Miami, Florida. Continue reading “Is Your Child Really Gifted?”

I’m a teacher. You’re a teacher. I say this to you from the bottom of my heart.

Stop what you are doing!

For the sake of your physical and mental health.

Stop what you are doing!

I want to say this at every faculty meeting but I don’t.

I bite my tongue and hope that the union steward will speak up.

But he doesn’t. Continue reading “Teachers, Stop What You’re Doing”