Iva’s Question Quest
Hi, I’m Iva and I have a passion for getting to know people and discovering the world. Listen along as I interview people, tell stories, and explain history mysteries.
Iva’s Question Quest
Multilingual Magic: From Fear to Friendship
Discover the inspiring journey of Ms. Wilder, a passionate multilingual teacher, as she shares her experiences in creating welcoming spaces for students from diverse backgrounds. In this episode, we delve into her transition from teaching fifth grade to her current role, where she supports new arrivals in navigating a new education system.
Ms. Wilder's heartwarming story begins with her encounter with Beatrice, a nervous student from Brazil who felt lost in her new environment. This pivotal moment fueled Ms. Wilder’s commitment to ensuring that every child feels safe and valued. She discusses her methods for building trust and connection, prioritizing emotional well-being alongside academic growth.
Listeners will also learn how consistent relationships forged over time contribute to a supportive classroom atmosphere. Ms. Wilder showcases the profound bonds she nurtures with her students, some of whom have been with her since kindergarten. Through her insights, educators can gain invaluable strategies for fostering inclusivity and understanding in multicultural classrooms.
Tune in to hear thoughts on the challenges and rewards of multilingual education, and how one teacher’s commitment can transform fear into friendship. Join us in amplifying the voices of educators and the students they inspire. Subscribe, leave a review, and let us know how this resonated with you!
Hello everyone. Today I'm interviewing Ms Wilder. She is the ML teacher at St James Elementary. How long have you been a ML teacher?
Speaker 2:I have been an ML teacher for five years and before I was an ML teacher, I taught fifth grade for three years.
Speaker 1:That's really cool. Do you speak different languages?
Speaker 2:I do not speak any other languages fluently, but I am trying to learn Spanish.
Speaker 1:How do you work with students that are new to our country?
Speaker 2:The first thing you want to do with students who are brand new to the country is to make them feel comfortable and safe in school. So that means you have to build that relationship first, making them feel comfortable so they want to come to school and learn.
Speaker 1:What was your inspiration? To become a ML teacher.
Speaker 2:So when I taught fifth grade and I was I was brand new. I had only been teaching for a couple years. I had a girl named Beatrice who was fresh from Brazil and had never been to school in the United States before. She only spoke Portuguese and nobody in my classroom spoke Portuguese. And she got scared and ran out of my room and I was so nervous because I thought I had lost this girl. I thought she was all around the school by herself, but it turns out she ran to the ML teacher's room because that's where she felt safe and I knew that's what I wanted to do, is I wanted to make kids feel safe.
Speaker 1:That's very cool. What grades do you work with?
Speaker 2:Since I'm the only ML teacher in this school, I work with kindergarten kids all the way through fourth grade, so the only grade that I don't work with is child development.
Speaker 1:That's really cool. I know that you work with someone in my class I do. What is the best part about being an ML?
Speaker 2:teacher. The best part about my job is that I get to teach my students for a long time. So one of my fourth graders I have actually been their ML teacher since kindergarten and me and their family have a really good relationship because I've been their teacher for a long time.
Speaker 1:Wow, that's really cool. That was our podcast for today. Thank you, ms Wilder, for joining us. See you all next time.