Welcome to Mr. Corona Teaching Website

My motivation for becoming a teacher has evolved throughout my UTeach experience as I learned about various theories of learning, knowing, and leading mentor teachings. As a result, I developed a deeper understanding of how to be an effective teacher by providing students with the ability to think critically, develop student comprehension through the dynamicity of translanguaging learning schemas, and help students develop a sense of agency to foster successful leaders. I believe that by developing students' critical thinking skills, they will be equipped to handle mentally challenging situations and act upon them effectively. The Constructivist Theory of learning has had a significant impact on the way I view teaching because students build on previous knowledge, similar to how construction workers build on top of a foundation to support a structure (Piaget). This teaching philosophy is effective because teachers can guide student learning toward critical thinking. However, it’s not as simple as providing them with all the materials and tools as the banking concept of learning would entail (Freire). The Constructivist Theory involves the teacher providing the tools, resources, and directions necessary to fortify their conception of the topic at hand. As a result, students develop critical thinking skills once the teacher has provided them with guiding questions that serve as instructions for developing a firm foundation and structure. To verify student competency, translanguaging as a formative assessment tool is an effective strategy to consider. Translanguaging involves demonstrating one's understanding of a subject through the use of other languages or models (Jones et al). It's a concept that allows the student to have more leverage when making sense of a topic rather than limiting them solely to the teacher’s mode. Teachers can open ways for translanguaging by encouraging students to express themselves through a culturally inclusive classroom environment. Therefore, multilingualism is an asset that provides various perspectives, thoughts, and feelings that place the individual and topic into a melting pot of contexts; it allows us to think critically and expand our understanding in various creative ways. Finally, developing student agency is essential to putting their knowledge into action as students figure out their purpose and the impact they can bring to their communities. Agency instills a sense of purpose and belonging that allows people to take action (Barton and Tan). Agency fosters learning because it makes it pertinent to one’s identity, boosts self-confidence, and creates driven-oriented students regardless of oppression. As a result, teachers who create an environment that supports self-improvement will encourage students to accomplish their goals as they use their unique identity as a valuable motivational and inspiring tool. Corona Vargas 2 Hence, my motivation for becoming a teacher is to provide students with the ability to think critically, encourage translanguaging as a working model for student comprehension, and help students develop a sense of agency. I want to accomplish these goals and encourage teachers to do the same, especially for underrepresented students who lack the resources and support they need to be successful. I speak from experience because I know how difficult it is for students to escape the perpetual social cycle when surrounded by the very essence of what keeps them there. Nevertheless, some teachers make all the difference when they believe in students’ efforts and want them to succeed. My high school science teachers embodied that belief, and I want to continue a legacy that instills a growth mindset for students regardless of their background and upbringing.