Impact on Student Success.

Applying UDL (Universal Design for Learning) into the classroom has impacted student learning. I am able to provide different resources for each student in order for them to view the material in different ways. This also provides various examples of the new material and different ways they can use it on an everyday routine. 

The Adventure Begins

Example of Student Success

One example of UDL is Flipgrid. Flipgrid is a great way to assess student learning. Students have the opportunity to record themselves speaking the Spanish language. They have various options from writing out their work, showing their face on camera, placing a fun emoji for those who are camera shy, viewing other examples from their classmates, and receiving constructive feedback from me as well as their peers.

A statement from an educational leader:

"It has been my pleasure this year to watch Ms. Gomez in action in the virtual classroom. She is a teacher who is committed to both her students and her professional development as a mastery-level educator. Ms. Gomez is an expert in her subject area who continually thinks about how she scaffolds language lessons for her students and the impact those lessons have on student learning. She has developed a common-sense, developmentally appropriate curriculum for her students, built from her expert knowledge of language acquisition. She takes into consideration her students’ prior knowledge, learning styles, and culture. In her classroom, students learn the structure of the Spanish language through vocabulary, grammar, speaking, and storytelling, all while engaged in activities that support their learning.

Throughout our year of distance learning, Ms. Gomez continually challenged herself to offer interesting and enjoyable ways for students to demonstrate their knowledge. In language acquisition, speaking is paramount, and she continually encouraged students to contribute using a wide swath of interactive technology to achieve those ends, giving students multiple chances to interact with one another using the tech tools available. She attends subject-specific professional development in her subject area to add to her expertise. The success of her students would not be possible, of course, without the atmosphere of trust, patience, and understanding that she fosters in her classroom. When observing her teach, Ms. Gomez is respectful, even-tempered, and uses humor to encourage her students to work. They return that respect. What results from these trust-based relationships is an atmosphere where students feel comfortable to contribute and to learn. Her class is warm and inviting, and I can tell that her students like being in a space where they are not judged, but are definitely challenged to learn."
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-Mr. Rockwell 

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"Where do I start?...I was honored to welcome Ms. Gomez to our Languages Department since I knew she was capable of being a great educator. She has learned so much independently so fast and never gives up when she experiences a challenge. It has been great exchanging ideas and supporting her as her Department Chair. I believe she has transformed many of her students' lives already and will continue to do so for many more years to come. She is always creating fun and engaging activities with her students whether it is a new game or a song to help retain vocabulary. I have never seen her without a smile and a positive outlook on life and how she views the world. She brings positivity everywhere she goes and never stops learning, which I applaud her for. I am eager to see her grow and blossom as an individual and will be her marigold when she needs me!"
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-Ms. Robinson(ASL Teacher/World Languages Department Chair)​