Mrs. Alvarado's Class
Tommie B. Williams Elementary 6th Grade
Excited to Make Your Aquaintance
My name is Mrs. Dinisha Alvarado and I can not wait to make your acquaintance.
This is going to be an exciting year!
Language Arts
1st six weeks - What Makes a Hero?
2nd & 3rd six weeks - What's Fair and What's Not?
4th six weeks - What Brings Out the Best in You?
5th six weeks - What Makes You Who You Are?
6th six weeks - What are Worthwhile Goals?
As I am granted permission, I will post various links and documents to aid the students in their linguistic studies.
photo credit: http://homeschooling911.com/how-to-teach-language-arts/
Math
Say this with me. "Fractions are our friends." As difficult as it may be to say, get used to it now. This will be our motto in math throughout this year.
1st six weeks
- Developing an Understanding Of and Fluency With Addition and Subtraction of Fractions and Decimals.
2nd six weeks
- Connecting Ratio and Rate to Multiplication and Division Using Equivalent Ratio to Represent Proportional Relationships
3rd six weeks
- Applying Measurement to Geometric Figures
4th six weeks
- Using Algebraic Notation to Represent Situations Involving Rational Numbers
5th six weeks
- Geometry
6th six weeks
- Review and Special Projects
As I am granted permission, I will post various links and documents to assist students in making this year a mathematical success.
photo credit: http://mathreallycounts.wordpress.com/
Science
1st six weeks
- Introduction to Scientific Inquiry
- Scientific Communication
- Scientific Observations
- Biotic & Abiotic Parts of an Ecosystem
- Ecosystem Levels of Organization
- Biotic & Abiotic Interactions
- Organisms can be Autotrophic or Heterotrophic
- Cells: basic Structures of Life
- Organisms: Unicellular or Multicellular
- Cells: Prokaryotic and Eukaryotic
- Reproduction: Asexual and Sexual
As I am granted permission, I will post various links and documents to assist students with their scientific inquiries.
photo credit: http://www.barnstable.k12.ma.us/domain/191
Social Studies - Contemporary World Cultures
P. Political (Who is in charge?)
E. Economic (How do the people earn their food?)
R. Religious (What is the meaning of life?)
S. Social (How do the people relate to each other?)
I. Intellectual-The Arts (How do the people express themselves and learn?)
A. Area (How does the environment influence the people?)
During the first week of school we will begin our focus in the small world we live in from day to day - our classroom. We will then, in very rapid fashion, expand our vision to Williams Elementary, Arlington, Texas, and finally the United States, looking at each of our six standard criteria at each level. From there our journey will begin.
Below is our itinerary for this year:
1st six weeks - North America
2nd six weeks - Central America, the Caribbean, and South America
3rd six weeks - Europe
4th six weeks - Russia and Eurasian Republics
5th six weeks - Sub-Saharan Africa, South Asia, East Asia and Southeast Asia
6th six weeks - Australia and the Pacific Rim
Williams Elementary is very culturally diverse and there will be many opportunities for the students to share their family culture with our class. Our classroom will be a safe and accepting environment for them to do so, as we seek to understand the various cultures that these children will be living and doing business with in the future.
As with all other areas of study, I will post various links and documents to aide these future global economists with their studies.
photo credit: http://www.billfrymire.com/blog/global-vision-image-of-the-week/
Who am I? What is my story?
As a student I tried out a lot of different things to figure out just where I fit. I played softball, ran track, was a cheerleader, a clog dancer, played tennis, was a member of choir, drama club, art club, student council, FCA, Spanish club, as well as a member of the yearbook staff and the academic decathlon team. I was a busy kid. I loved school, though it was not always easy. Yes, I had my trouble spots. However, I had a very supportive mama who helped me to understand that the mistakes of life are nothing to obsess over. They are simply opportunities to try again, this time with insight. Take the lesson, make amends if you need to, and leave the mess behind you.
I graduated high school with honors and began working right away to pay for my classes in college. I worked full time and went to school part time. My great granny and my mama taught me to work hard, do my best and treat everyone with respect. This helped me to progress quickly at work. Soon I was making great money and wanted to go out and live my life. I left college to pursue money and to experience life. I don't have many regrets in life, but that is one of the two things I would change.
I spent about 14 years in the corporate world and enjoyed good success. I did notice, though, that I had to work, longer, harder and smarter than the kids fresh from college. During that time I met and married my husband, Robert. We had two beautiful children and soon decided that we would sacrifice our comfortable income so that I could stay at home with our children for their formative years.
I began talking to my children about college when they were toddlers. They have been die hard A&M and Longhorn fans almost since birth. Who knows why they picked those schools at such a young age or why they have been so loyal. My theory is, "I don't care which college you attend as long as you go and finish what you start." With that said, you should know that I felt a bit hypocritical since I had not finished college myself and I began the old college trek again at Tarrant County College, where I graduated on the Dean's List with an Associate of Arts degree.
In 2005 we moved from Plano to Arlington and joined the Williams family. My daughter, Kaitlyn's third grade teacher was Mrs. Marshall, who now oversees the exciting Science experience at Williams. My son, Joshua's first grade teacher was Mrs. Magoo, now retired. I began as a parent, then progressed to a parent volunteer. I spent many an afternoon making copies or cutting and pasting various lesson materials. I knew the teachers did not have time to do everything and I wanted to free them of the things I could help with so they could pour their efforts into creating engaging lessons for my children.
Soon I found myself on the PTA where I served as a board member for 3 of the 12 years that I have been a PTA member. I am honored to say that I was elected as a Texas PTA Lifetime member in 2010. That is one of my most prized accomplishments. I love these families and believe in these kids with my whole heart. A schools faculty and staff are essential, but parent volunteers are the difference between a good school and a great school.
During all my volunteering a position as aTeaching Assistant came available. A wise woman pointed out that It only made sense to get paid for what I was already doing, giving my time, talents and heart to Williams kids. I served as a Teaching Assistant to Shannon Hanrahan, our Language Arts Instructional Coach for four years as I completed my education at Dallas Baptist University. I graduated with a Bachelor of Science and Arts degree in Business and Education in 2012.
Last year, just as school got underway, a sweet friend and coworker found herself in need of a long term leave of absence to take care of her health. Having passed my Texas State Teacher Certification exam in October, I was primed to step in and teach her 6th grade math classes for a few weeks while she got healthy. A few weeks turned into the remainder of the year. What a wild ride! I loved those kids like they were my own. We learned so much together. I am proud to say that my friend is healthy and back to her post. I am also honored to teach with her this year.
Well, that brings us up to date. I have spent the summer painting and preparing our classroom and our lessons for this year. We are going to learn a lot about the world, life, and each other. We are also going to work hard at setting and attaining goals, both in and out of class. We are going to laugh, sweat, hopefully not cry, but probably scratch our heads in wonder as we face and conquer the curriculum this year. We are going to do it together and we will be successful.
My Family
Mother's Day 2013
It was a beautiful day. We had brunch on our back deck. It's always fun to get the family together.
My Birthday 2012
Nanny's 85th Birthday - 2013
Seated on the floor: Joshua (my son)
ALVARADO FAMILY CODE
Help each other.
Be thankful.
Know you are loved.
Pay with hugs and kisses.
Try new things.
Be happy.
Show compassion.
Be grateful.
Dream big.
Respect one another.
Laugh out loud.
Joshua and Kaitlyn
I LOVE MY KIDS!!!!!
You'll learn more about them as the year progresses. Whatever lessons I learn about Jr. High and High School expectations through them, I pass on to you. I want you prepared to be successful as you sail through those important phases of your life.
Mimi
Ms. Valerie Sands, but everybody calls her Mimi
Since her retirement Mimi has kept herself busy with various charity work and continuing education courses. She also is a big help with my kids. She teaches them things I probably would not have thought to teach them, or maybe would not have had the time, things like baking, sewing, painting, lawnmower repair, pet care, etc. She is a hard taskmaster when it comes to homework. If Mimi is on duty, you are finishing everything and probably doing extra credit. But she'll make it more tolerable with cookies.
You will see her face at the school from time to time. She has been an approved volunteer at Williams Elementary since 2006. She doesn't like the spot light, so you'll have to look closely to find her. She loves the kids and she understands the value of a good education. She knows first hand how it will improve their career path.
My Pets
Ruth
Gracie
Sam
Let's stay in touch.
Conference period: 2:40 p.m. - 3:10 p.m.
Email: dalvarad@aisd.net
Website: www.aisd.net/williams
Location: 4915 Red Birch Drive, Arlington, TX
Phone: 682-867-5900