Greetings Everyone,

Thanks for stopping by my personal corner on the web! I would like to introduce myself to you. My name is Mariely Sanchez and I am currently serving as a fourth grade teacher at David Lawrence Jr. K-8 Center. Prior to being a fourth grade teacher, I served as the intermediate Reading Coach (or Reading Specialist) at Lakeview Elementary for the 2006-2007 school year. Being a Reading Coach was an exciting experience for me and I learned a lot, but in my heart I still longed to be in my own classroom with my own group of students. That is why I decided to return to the classroom and share all my creative knowledge with my students.  Before becoming a Reading Coach, I worked as a Teacher of the Gifted for 4 years (3 years at Liberty City Elementary and 1 year at Lakeview Elementary). I transferred to Lakeview Elementary, for the 2005-2006 school year, after working at Liberty City Elementary for 4 years. I had many rewarding experiences while working at Liberty City, first as a third grade teacher and then as a Teacher of the Gifted. I will never forget my Liberty City family as well as all the wonderful students I taught.

I have been teaching since 2001 and I am a graduate of Florida International University and Barry University. I hold a Bachelors of Science in Elementary Education grades 1-6 with endorsements in ESOL and Gifted Education and a Masters of Science in Educational Technology Applications. I was also voted as Teacher of the Year at Lakeview Elementary during the 2006-2007 school year and most recently as David Lawrence Jr. K-8 Center's 2009-2010 Teacher of the Year. Some of my website content was also used in the publication of the book titled Why Culture Counts: Teaching Children of Poverty by Donna Walker Tileston and Sandra K. Darling in 2008 (published by Solution Tree) and Southwest University created a course packet for a Reading & Decoding course in 2009 using another part of my website content as well. In addition, the University of West Florida used my New Teacher Survival Guide in a symposium for graduates in 2008.

On a personal note, I was born in Ponce, Puerto Rico. I lived there until I was 10 years old. My family and I then moved to Miami, FL in 1987. I went to Lakeview Elementary during my fifth and sixth grade years. I then proceeded to go to North Miami Middle and Miami Edison Senior High where I graduated with honors in 1995. I was given the privilege to go on an internship to Washington D.C. the summer after I graduated. This opportunity was given to me through ASPIRA's Public Policy and Leadership Program (APPLP). I lived in George Washington University and I interned with the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC) in the Senior Attorney's Office. That was truly an exciting opportunity especially to have been given to honor to sing Puerto Rico's National Anthem in Capitol Hill during the closing ceremony of this internship program. That was truly a memory I will never forget.

Above all these experiences, non have been more rewarding than becoming a mother. I am the proud mother of one energetic and loving boy. I cherish every moment that I spend with my son and it fills me with joy to see his beautiful happy smile everyday. I thank God every single day for the wonderful gift he has given me. The gift of being a mother to my son. Moreover, the gift of being a teacher to so many wonderful children. It's interesting because becoming a teacher was not my first choice in deciding what career path to take. I was originally a business major pursuing a Bachelors/Masters in Accounting and MIS. After three years of studies, I discovered that my true calling was teaching. I quickly changed majors and discovered the hidden treasures in being an educator. I can truly say that I have been blessed all around. Thank you for stopping by and allowing me to share a bit of myself. Feel free to continue to explore this website and don't forget to sign the Guestbook.

Sincerely,


 

Full Name: Mariely Sanchez
Birthday: May 27
Children: My son Jonathan
Birthplace: Ponce, Puerto Rico
I moved to Miami, FL in 1987.
Languages: Fluent in both English and Spanish.
Education:
bullet I am a graduate of Miami Edison Senior High class of 1995.
bullet I attended the University of Miami during my freshman year in the fall of 1995.
bullet I then transferred to Florida International University in the fall of 1996.
bullet I graduated from Florida International University on May 1, 2001, with a Bachelors of Science in Elementary Education and ESOL Endorsement.
bullet Attained my Gifted Endorsement in the fall of 2004.
bullet I graduated from Barry University on May 4, 2008, with a Masters in Educational Technology Applications.
Hobbies: I love to play with my son, sing, draw, work on my website (of course!), make blinkies and COLLECT BLINKIES (Click here to see my blinkie collection), AND I'm also a drum player!
Favorite Color: All shades of blue (especially the pastel ones).
Favorite Movie: Currently...Lord of the Rings.
Favorite T.V. Show: So You Think You Can Dance and Heroes
Favorite Song: Currently..."Breathe" by Sixpence None the Richer
Favorite Music Artist: Third Day, Sixpence None the Richer, Nicole C. Mullen, Yolanda Adams, Celtic Woman, Enya
Favorite Drink: Freshly Squeezed Lemonade
Favorite Snack: Apple Slices with Peanut Butter
Favorite Smells: Bath & Body Works Cotton Blossom, Magnolia, and Night Blooming Jasmine
Favorite Sounds: Wind chimes and the sound of my son laughing.
Least Favorite Sounds: When a student says: "I can't do it!" I usually tell them: "YES YOU CAN!"
Favorite Book: The Twilight Saga, Anything by J.K. Rowling (author of Harry Potter), Green Eggs and Ham by Dr. Seuss, Anything by Shel Silverstein, and The Chronicles of Narnia
Favorite place to be: In front of my computer
Favorite Weekday: Saturday
Favorite Month: May and June
Favorite Season: Summer
Favorite Teachers:
bullet Kindergarten (Bordaleza, Puerto Rico): Ms. Morales
bullet 5th Grade (Lakeview Elementary, Miami, FL): Ms. Bethune.
bullet 7th, 8th, and 9th Grade (North Miami Middle, Miami, FL): Ms. Woodruff
bullet 12th Grade (Miami Edison Senior High, Miami, FL): Ms. Humphrey
bullet A big thank you to all of these WONDERFUL teachers who have inspired me!

Check out my "Blinkie" collection!

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