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Thriving in EFL

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Thriving in EFL

Facilitating learning.

30/08/2026

“It’s so organic! So Finnish-like!”, the academic director exclaimed.

Well, yeah. It’s just I don’t want kids to get overwhelmed with too much stimuli.

I know photo 2 doesn’t change much from photo 1 (when the classroom was empty).
But I’m confident the classroom will fill up with kid’s work.

Parents and some kids have walked in to leave books and notebooks.
One mom said to her son: “Your classroom is so nice! And it smells like new!”
One of the girls told excitedly to her dad, “The drawings (on the walls) are watercolors!” “She’s an artist,” her dad let me know, grinning.

A new school year is beginning. For me, it’ll officially begin next Tuesday (Sept. 1st). 5th grade.
I’m nervous; I hope I can say in a few days that it was all for nothing.

18/08/2026

First day of school, after two years of being off.
Today: staff meeting.
Different school. Warm welcome.

Currently reading: Teaching When You Have Nothing Left, by Jenn Breisacher Jenn Breisacher
Something that so far has strongly caught my attention from that book: to prevent burnout the teacher must have systems and boundaries; and that is exactly why I am reading the book.

One of the reasons I left teaching for two years is because I was burnt out. I won’t let it happen again; I can’t afford it.

I was doubting whether to post again on Instagram. I’ll do it just to keep a record; just to share.

If you want to join the journey, you are very welcome!
Thanks for reading!
I hope you have a great school year!

23/06/2026

Teacher of any subject and grade level: this book is a must read!!

I DON’T get paid for recommending it.

I lived it. That’s how I know what is in there works.

It will change your classroom for good. No, it ISN’T more to add to your plate.

I honestly recommend it.

Jenn Breisacher

16/05/2024

It’s been actually 9 years that I have worked at this school, but with a break in between.

This year has been the toughest for me at different levels.
My mom passed away in 2021, then my brother last December, and my dad this January.
Even though I believe I will see them again someday, it did affect my wellbeing.

Even before that, I had been struggling with some mental health issues.

Long story short, due to my mental health I had asked the primary principal and the English coordinator to give me just one group this year; and they granted it to me. But then, in mid September, they decided it was a good idea to give me another group of a different grade.

You have no idea what an internal battle was unleashed inside me. Add in my family’s passings and the students’ behavior…

That’s why I haven’t posted in here.

After months of struggle, anger, resentment, and therapy, I finally (and just recently) realized there was no point in holding the grudge. That simple change of mind was liberating.

It’s been 24 years of teaching for me. I just wanted to post a little something about it today, that is Teacher’s Day in Mexico.

In the pictures: the school’s acknowledgement that I have worked there for 6 years and a beautiful silver coin, and some of my Teacher’s Day gifts.

If you’ve read this far, I really appreciate it! 💕 Hope you are doing well!

11/12/2023

“You must read the text, write the number of the question, and write only the answer.”
“You mustn’t do any other kind of thing.”

This is the second time we worked on reading around the room (although it was actually outside the room ☺️).

This time it worked out way better than the first one, around Thanksgiving Day.

I told the kiddos I knew they could behave and carry out the activity correctly. Gladly they did today.

Last time they were pushing each other around and some of them were even shouting to each other.

We tried again; it worked. We have to teach them, not just the curriculum, but social and life skills.

😊💕

15/02/2023

When kids, their parents, and your teacher partner celebrate your birthday.

My desk full of creative cards.

The classroom decorated.

Kids behaving better than usual.

Hugs.

Gifts.

“Happy Birthday” song sung three times in a day.

And when a “you are a really good teacher, don’t forget that” message lifts you up.

Grateful for these moments.

11/02/2023

I’m feeling overjoyed with these first verbs quizzes!!!

I used to teach verbs with an alphabetically ordered list. But you might guess what a mess that was.

Today, with the first verbs quiz done in this school year, I’ve seen much better results!

31 out of 33 kids passed the test!
Most of them understood the verb forms.
And this just by giving them the verbs ordered by groups. For example: this week it was: “past with a; past participle with u”.

Awesome!

15/09/2022

Today is Mexico’s Independence Celebration Day! 🇲🇽

Yesterday at school we had a celebration with a Flag ceremony; during recess people sold quesadillas (tortilla filled with cheese), esquites (boiled corn kernels), and churros (a kind of a long stick-bread covered with sugar). We played Lotería (a kind of Bingo).

A friend lent me this dress, typical from Michoacán, a state in Mexico. Many teachers and students wore something Mexican.

I didn’t have the chance to celebrate it last year, so it was nice. 😊

09/08/2022

Teacher friends! Join Jenn from starting August 14th for her free, cameo program ”Finding Your Student Engagement Formula Challenge". She teaches the four keys to student engagement (part of her signature “Student Engagement Framework”) and will help you create a lesson plan for the first day of school using those keys.

To join, visit studentcentereworld.com/formula

19/03/2022

Better late than never!

St. Valentine’s Day bulletin board display.

Photo 1: I like how the display looked like stained glass.

Photo 2: Zoom in.

Photo 3: I liked how this student thought of a different way to decorate it.

Hearts by

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Mexico City

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