EDUCATION
EXPERIENCE
Favorite Quote
"Love life. Engage in it. Give it all you've got. Love it with a passion because life truly does give back, many times over, what you put into it." - Maya Angelou
Favorite Lesson
My favorite lesson is reading and helping teachers teach reading comprehension using the excerpt "Shane" by Dick Gregory. It is a rich memoir on how a teacher makes the narrator feel shame for being poor and not as privileged as her other students. Every time the teachers read it, they are touched by their own personal stories of how they felt at school or why they chose to be a teacher.
The JSWP prompt I have used with this selection is -- We all have childhood memories that help shape us into who we are today. Read "Shame." Then, in a well-developed essay, analyze Dick Gregory's attitude toward his past through his use of diction and figurative language.
My JSWP "Aha" Moment
I recently worked with Advanced Placement® Spanish teachers and color-coded a Spanish essay; of course, I used our Jane Schaffer color. That's how my mind thinks. The teachers loved the color-coding and saw how easy and purposeful each color was. Jane Schaffer® colors have no language barriers. Everyone needs Jane Schaffer in their lives!
"I loved how Ms. Barragan used real-world situations and helped me visualize how I could use different strategies in the classroom. I also appreciated the breaks and time for peer talk." - Elementary School Teacher, Henderson, Nevada
