2. Do you want your children to attend the school where you're teaching? Yes, but they're not in high school yet, and I'm not sure where I'll be teaching when that time comes.
3. Can you call my house and tell them that I need a computer before he goes to Mexico on Friday? Oops....didn't read this one in time to make that phone call. However, I DO have computers available for students to borrow when truly needed.
4. Will your class be hard? Hmmm...the class will be hard for different people at different times throughout the year. Some will find they have a skill set in one area that they might not have in another. My belief is that if it does not offer some challenge to everybody, then I am only insulting the intelligence of the students I serve.
5. What is the difference between going to college and high school? A major difference is being able to choose your classes in college.
6. If you work, will it affect how much $ you can get from FAFSA? No. You will have to file your taxes if you make more than $7,000 a year, but even then, that's not enough to have an effect on the money they offer you for college. Many of my former students have qualified for FULL financial aid, whether they had a job or not. What may affect the amount of money you're offered is how much your parents make and file on their tax returns.
7. Is it difficult to do the Senior Project? Yes.
8. How do I find information about my Senior Project? We spend weeks researching and evaluating sources for the right information to help you on your topic. The public library is an excellent resource, and this year, because I am a student at UC Berkeley, I have access to a a number of research databases that I will share with my students. Information for your projects exist ALL AROUND YOU. It is up to you to be thorough and have the stamina to evaluate that information though.
9. Can I make my Senior project a documentary instead of writing a paper? You can do a documentary as an optional Senior Product to enhance your paper, but no, it cannot replace the actual written paper.
10. What happens if you don't pass your Senior Project? If you don't pass on the 1st try, you have the option to re-do one more time. The re-do option is not something you want to rely on though, since it sucks to have to still be revising and freaking out when everyone is celebrating their year almost being over.
11. Where do you come from (3)? My mama. If you mean culturally, what are my roots, then my mother is from the Philippines and my father is Puerto Rican. I have ancestry that traces to China, Africa, Spain...among other places.
12. How many brothers do you have? One by blood and a handful of others in spirit.
13. When will we begin with the Senior Projects (3)? We already did ;)
14. Do you like Oakland? No. I love Oakland.
15. Describe a time in your life where you struggled the most. When I was 8 years old, I was in an accident involving my sister and cousin. I was the sole survivor. I struggled like any child would who has to grapple with tragedy, but my takeaway from it was that I was/am meant for something great on this planet......like teaching.
16. Do you do drugs? If coffee is a drug, then yes, I'm addicted.
17. Do you smoke? Not anymore. I quit the day I found out I was pregnant with my firstborn.
18. Why is it closed campus this year? I believe the reason was for safety concerns, but for the full story, you may have to talk to Mr. Hurst or Mr. Sanchez.
19. How do you manage to look so young? Genetics. My mom and dad also look young for their age. Working with youth all day and then coming home to my own children keeps my physicals young. I do believe that I have a very very old soul though.
20. What classes do I have to take in college to major in business? It depends on the college you attend. Prepare to take economics, statistics, business administration, entrepreneurship, and others. If you really want the scoop, then email me and I will put you in contact with my little brother who graduated from the Haas School of Business at UC Berkeley.
21. What does it take to pass this class? Proficiency in the skills I'm teaching and a solid work ethic. I do encourage my students to do more than just try to pass any of their classes. Your goal should be to EXCEL in your classes.
22. Where did you graduate from? I have a Bachelor's in English from UC Berkeley, a Master's in Education from Stanford, and I am getting a second Master's in Educational Leadership at Berkeley right now.
23. How do I join the Yearbook Club and Student Council? With eyes wide open. Both are huge responsibilities. If you mean the process of joining, I will have information out to Advisories by this Friday.
24. What do you mean by this class being fun? We laugh....a lot.
25. How big is California in mm? On my globe here at the house, it measures about 100 mm, but if you're taking actual size, I'm not sure.
26. How much is an essay worth for our grade? Essays and major assessments count for 40% of your semester grade.
27. How much is taken off our grade if an essay is late? 10% for every day it is late.
28. How do we get our Senior Project topic? We go through two block periods of discussion and questioning, pre-reading and evaluation of personal experiences. A majority of students have a good sense of their topic after this process.
29. How long have you been teaching? This is my 10th year of teaching, and you all are the 8th class I'll be graduating.
30. Will there be any physical movements in the class or are we going to sit & listen while taking notes? We do way more than just sit and listen and take notes. I do my best to make sure that all of my students stay engaged in the work.
31. How do you manage everything you do such as all the Senior stuff and your children? Coffee. It helps a lot. I am also a multi-tasker like my own mother. I can plan curriculum while folding the laundry, hold my sleeping daughter in my lap while writing this blog, etc. I have also managed to harness the power of technology to help keep me organized and on top of my game. Much of my life overlaps too. You'll see what I mean when I have to bring in one of my sick children to work with me while teaching all of you.
32. Are you married? Yes, for 10 years now.
33. During the months, are we only going to focus on the Senior Project (2)? No, the Senior Project is one facet of the class. Studying literature is the other. You'd get bored if we just did one or the other.
34. Did you have any other majors in college other than English? Yup...I did English and Education.
35. How was college life? Was it difficult? Did you feel like giving up at one point? College life was some of the most fun I've ever had. It became really difficult when I got pregnant my Junior year and took my son to class with me every day during my Senior year. The tough stuff in life makes you stronger though. No, I never felt like giving up. It would have been dishonorable to do that to myself, my child, and my ancestors. I did learn the value of prioritizing and letting things go though.
36. When you were a Senior, did you feel like giving up or felt like you wouldn't make it? Given the school my parents sent me to for high school, I never wanted to give up. I was out to prove something to all of the privileged kids around me who believed a student like me who was attending on a work scholarship was somehow less than they were.
37. Can you help me with grammar b/c I'm not too good at it? Yes, but remember that good grammar doesn't make you any smarter than anyone else. Helping students learn how to think and articulate their thinking is one of my main goals for your class.
32. Are you married? Yes, for 10 years now.
33. During the months, are we only going to focus on the Senior Project (2)? No, the Senior Project is one facet of the class. Studying literature is the other. You'd get bored if we just did one or the other.
34. Did you have any other majors in college other than English? Yup...I did English and Education.
35. How was college life? Was it difficult? Did you feel like giving up at one point? College life was some of the most fun I've ever had. It became really difficult when I got pregnant my Junior year and took my son to class with me every day during my Senior year. The tough stuff in life makes you stronger though. No, I never felt like giving up. It would have been dishonorable to do that to myself, my child, and my ancestors. I did learn the value of prioritizing and letting things go though.
36. When you were a Senior, did you feel like giving up or felt like you wouldn't make it? Given the school my parents sent me to for high school, I never wanted to give up. I was out to prove something to all of the privileged kids around me who believed a student like me who was attending on a work scholarship was somehow less than they were.
37. Can you help me with grammar b/c I'm not too good at it? Yes, but remember that good grammar doesn't make you any smarter than anyone else. Helping students learn how to think and articulate their thinking is one of my main goals for your class.
Thank you for all of the wonderful questions. I hope that I have given you a snapshot into my life. I've had many struggles and celebrations, but it's all kept me real. Always feel free to share with me as well. I am here to listen.
Ms. Paraiso
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