TEACHING PEDAGOGY
My pedagogy uses history to teach students critical thinking, rhetoric, and writing skills. My educational and teaching background is rooted in the interdisciplinary field of Chicano/Latino Studies, with a focus on Chicano/Latino history. This background enables me to incorporate aspects of history, education, culture, labor, and migration into my teaching approach. My pedagogy emphasizes praxis—balancing theory and action—both inside and outside the classroom. This approach encourages students to engage in social change through reflection and practice.
In my courses, I facilitate a critical dialogue between students and myself. Students read, discuss, and analyze materials that include counter-narratives from Communities of Color. They engage with these materials by exploring the intersections of race, class, and gender. The goal is to enhance the students’ critical thinking, rhetoric, and writing skills, preparing them for success both in and out of the classroom.
A key element of effective pedagogy is the willingness to receive constructive feedback from colleagues and students. Input from teaching evaluations has enabled me to assess what strategies are effective and which are not, leading to improvements in my overall teaching approach. These experiences have provided me with mentorship and guidance, helping me become a more effective educator, and I believe it is important to learn from mistakes.
With each course I teach, I continuously revise aspects of the curriculum to adapt to the changing dynamics within Communities of Color in the United States, while maintaining a focus on praxis. Conversations with colleagues and students have offered me invaluable guidance, enhancing my development as both a mentor and an educator.
Bowling Green State University, Department of Ethnic Studies
ETHN 1010 – Introduction to Ethnic Studies
ETHN 1100 – Introduction to Latina/o Studies
ETHN 2110 – History of Mexican Americans
ETHN 3100 – Mexican Culture
ETHN 3120 – Chicana/os in the United States
ETHN 3300 – Race & Labor in the United States
ETHN 4200 – Latino/a Cultural Studies
ETHN 4800 – Latina/o Educational Pipeline
California State University, Channel Islands, Chicana/o Studies Program
CHS 100 – Chicana/os in Contemporary Society
CHS 402 – Southern California Chicana/o History and Culture
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