Hola estudiantes. ÀEst usted listo para su leccin hoy? If you were one of Edye Freeman's many elementary and middle school students you would know in a flash that she just said, "Hello Students. Are you ready for your lesson today?" And you would know it because statements such as these have been worked so naturally into your classes that you don't even have to "translate," they are as natural to you as brushing your teeth or combing your hair.
With a BA in Spanish and secondary education from Florida Southern College, a Master's degree in ESL (English as a Second Language) from the University of Central Florida and an additional certification in Spanish education for K-5, Edye is well prepared for her role for the past 13 years as educator within the Mid-Prairie school system. When you add all her education together, Edye is certified to teach Spanish and ESL from K-12 though she at present teaching K-5 at all M-P elementary schools and at the middle school. Though she is not at this time working with ESL students, Edye shared that ESL is very special to her and she misses having an ESL classroom.
When asked if there was a part of teaching Spanish that she especially felt was important to bring into her classes beyond teaching the language itself, Mrs. Freeman stated, " Teaching them about culture and helping them overcome any stereotypes they might have about the Spanish language and Spanish cultures helps the kids better understand and appreciate others."
Adding culture to her curriculum as well as helping her students understand that "not everyone who speaks Spanish eats spicy tacos," Mrs. Freeman added, "teaching students that there are many different cultures who do speak Spanish but have a different culture is an important part of my classes". It is obvious that not only does Mrs. Freeman feel teaching Spanish as a language, but that students receive their share of Social Studies within the classroom as well.
Using games, activities, and a basic introduction, as well as providing a comfortable feeling to the language, plays a large part of teaching her elementary students. Middle school however brings to the classroom individual projects based on culture and geography. With a class in Spanish required each year at the middle school, the projects change as to add depth of knowledge readying students for MPHS Spanish.
Mrs. Freeman stated, "I love teaching them from fourth grade through middle school. It is so much fun to see them come in so small and eager to learn and see them leave a foot taller than me. Their growth and change is neat to see, because that time in their life is molding the person whom they will always be. And it's wonderful to watch them develop into that person."
With this statement it was crystal clear that this is one educator who finds personal growth within her students as important as their "book knowledge". She takes her love of students and language throughout the district sharing not only knowledge but a love of life itself. Mrs. Freeman is without a doubt an asset to the M-P school community in ways that cannot be measured in testing. For in teaching not only Spanish, she brings to the classroom a rich knowledge and appreciation for a culture that is so different than most Iowans'.
As we concluded our interview and her next class was about to begin, I encountered a student in the hallway who inquired as to why I was there. Explaining I had just finished an interview of Mrs. Freeman, this student said with a grin, "Seora Freeman es muy especial. ÁLa amo!" For those of you like me needed a translation, you might find it interesting and quite telling that this student stated, "Mrs. Freeman is very special. I love her!" a statement that speaks I daresay for not just this particular enthusiastic fifth grader but for many other students as well! ÁGracias seora Freeman, pozo del trabajo - hecho!