Perla Rodriguez, a dedicated 4th grade ELAR and Social Studies teacher at La Academia de Estrellas Charter School, has a passion for making Texas History both exciting and accessible for her students. By diving into the diverse cultures and human geography that shaped the state, Perla helps her students connect with history in meaningful ways. Her integration of Exploros technology into the classroom has allowed her to create an engaging, interactive learning environment that especially supports her English Language Learners.

In this Educator Spotlight, we take a closer look at Perla’s teaching journey and how she uses Exploros to inspire her students and enhance their learning experiences.

Q1: 🌟 Please introduce yourself, including your name, the subject you teach, and the grade level of your students.

My name is Perla Rodriguez and I teach 4th grade ELAR and Social Studies.

Q2: 🌐 What aspect of Social Studies do you find most fascinating and enjoy teaching the most, and why?

As a Texas History teacher, I find myself most excited to teach my students human geography and the historical cultures within and beyond the state.

Q3: 🎉 Share a success story or memorable moment made possible by Exploros.

I remember once my students were struggling to understand the concept of adaptation during a unit on Native Americans and the environment. They could identify natural resources but struggled to apply prior knowledge of different Texas regions. So, I assigned my tables different Native cultures that lived in different regions to study and then present findings to the class. Because Exploros has a unit for each Texas region and for nomadic and sedentary tribes, my students could use readings, illustrations/photographs, and interactive tools to hone in on their assigned culture. After my students presented to the class, they were able to successfully explain how Natives adapted to their environment!

Q4: 💻 How has technology, particularly Exploros, empowered you as a teacher, helping you achieve your goals and enhance student outcomes?

I believe technology can be very helpful when it comes to providing quick resources to improve comprehension in students, especially ELLs. Exploros provides a lot of visuals and graphic organizers in which students see examples and break down ideas clearly. I also love that students can immediately see each other's responses, as it engages them to start a meaningful discussion and practice their language skills.

Q5: 🚀 What's one effective teaching strategy or tip for boosting confidence and student engagement in Social Studies?

I like starting my lessons with a hook that relates to real life experiences outside the classroom. The students get excited to speak on something they are familiar with, and I can refer back to those ideas throughout my lesson.