Yajaira Castro Mora: Make school a place they love to be
Yajaira Castro Mora is a fourth-grade bilingual math and science teacher at Fairview Elementary. (Special to the American Press)
As a teacher, Yajaira Castro Mora, 41, gets to do something meaningful every day.
She is a fourth-grade bilingual math and science teacher at Fairview Elementary who is driven by a need to help others and share her knowledge. While teaching baseline curriculum, she also supports students who are learning two languages and encourages cultural exploration.
She always wanted to be an educator who inspires her students, and has modeled herself after teachers who taught her in Costa Rica. That is where she was born and raised. She grew up a curious and industrious student, and those traits were only amplified by her teachers.
'Their support made a big difference in my life and helped shape who I am today.'
She earned a Bachelor's in English language teaching from Universidad Latina and a Master's in educational administration from San Isidro Labrador International University, both while in Costa Rica.
Mora has taught for 18 years. The first 12 of those were as an English as a second language educator in Costa Rica.
Once she reached Louisiana, she earned an additional Master's in education from LSU-Shreveport and began working at Oak Park Elementary. She later transferred to Fairview to be closer to her children, who attended the elementary school.
At Fairview, she has been met with love and empathy.
'It has truly felt like a family. Working there has helped me grow both personally and professionally.'
Mora returns the favor. At Fairview, she is the mentor of a new kindergarten teacher. She supports her mentee student with planning, classroom routines and teaching strategy skills in a bilingual setting.
Her fourth-grade math and science class is a multidisciplinary learning experience taught in Spanish. Her students are part of the school's dual language immersion program, where students learn in both English and Spanish. Mora loves to teach the math and science courses because she can encourage students to think critically, innovatively and creatively.
Fourth grade is a joy to teach because students are at an age where they are still full of personality, but have developed more maturity and independence (and are already familiar with the rules).
'They teach me things too, like how to do crafts, a dance or even something new on the computer,' she said. 'It's such a fun age because they're capable, competitive, and still very affectionate.'
The connections she develops with her students are defined by warmth. Each day, her students are met with an educator whom they trust to care for them, but Mora takes the time to approach each one with open ears.
These relationships are built in a structured classroom with firm expectations, routines and consequences. Her students are motivated by a point and reward system that transforms class into a productive game, while her lesson plans are loaded with fresh activities and education techniques.
Every student can learn when their needs are met, she said. Despite her class structure, her plans are flexible, allowing for case-by-case adjustments. This responsibility extends past the classroom walls. Strong communication between teachers and parents is necessary for educators to have the full picture of a student's needs.
All Mora wants in return are happy moments with her students.
'I love when they laugh with me, when they share their stories, or when they give me little notes, drawings, or even flowers,' she said. 'It makes me feel so loved and appreciated.'
This joy is necessary in a learning environment. That is her piece of advice for her peers.
'Laugh with your students, celebrate their efforts and make school a place they love to be.'
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