Michelle Cecilia Gonzales

April and May at CEIP Blas Infante

April and May were months to remember! I taught the kids as well as I could, and I hope they remember me forever. My favorite thing to do is just walk into the class because the second I go in, they scream my name with excitement and come running to hug me; it is truly the best feeling. I will miss seeing their beautiful faces every day! This was an amazing school to pick.

In my 3rd-grade class, we learned about technology, such as computers and the parts of a computer, as well as tablets, and how to be safe when it comes to the internet, since it is a scary world out there. What a memorable class!

In my 2nd grade class, they had a lot of field trips, so I didn't get to see them as much, but when I did, we played games and learned about cities and towns and what they have in them, like the building and the town hall, etc. 

In my 1st grade class, we learned about transportation and all the different ways we can get from point A to point B. I now know how all of them get to school, which is funny to listen to their stories and try to understand them all. 

In my kindergarten classes, I read them my favorite childhood books that I used to love, which my mom brought me from back in the US. They also got to meet my parents when they came to visit, which was so cute! 

In April and May, I got to close off this chapter of my life and hope to grow from everything I learned and experienced. I want to thank this school and the staff for making this school a breath of fresh air! They care so deeply for all of the kids, it makes me want to cry. Bye-bye! :) 

February and March at CEIP Blas Infante

February and March were amazing months I will cherish forever. I taught them many things that will stick with them for a long time. My favorite thing is planning a game and seeing how fun and interactive they are. When I look into the future, I know it is ending soon. I know I will miss all of them so deeply. 

In my 3rd grade class, we enjoyed topics like the differences between gas, liquid, and solid, and what matter is. I created PowerPoints explaining everything they needed to know. I had them copy words back to me after saying the sentence to help with pronunciation. They are so smart!

In my 2nd grade class, we learned about different types of water, such as fresh water and salt water, and where you can find them. We also learned about the atmosphere and the planets. I got to be creative, making them games and watching them learn. 

In my 1st grade class, we learned about materials such as wood, plastic, and more. Then we learned about machines and what they do, such as blenders, washing machines, and more. I made fun things to do that got them up and around the class, looking for the materials in the classroom. 

In kindergarten, it is ALL about animals. The different types of animals and where you can find them. It was so cute to hear them say the English word back and make them do the sound of the animals. We had dance parties to some songs I found about the topic. So fun!

In February and March, I grew my relationship with all the kids and had a blast. I got to enjoy living in Spain after traveling so much during the holidays, so I feel extremely lucky. :)

My favourite months

December and January have been my favorite months so far! I had the wonderful opportunity to teach about Christmas and New Year traditions in the United States and other exciting topics. The students loved learning about these celebrations, and I created engaging games and activities that were a big hit.

In my 3rd-grade class, we explored landscapes and food chains. During English lessons, I incorporated Christmas-themed activities, such as creating their own gingerbread men while listening to festive holiday music. It was fun!

For my 2nd graders, we worked on vocabulary related to their current units. In English, I designed a slideshow to show various traditions and activities from the U.S., giving them a look into how the holidays are celebrated.

My kindergarten classes focused on tracing activities, such as outlining Christmas trees or animals. We also discussed what to wear in different types of weather, which tied in nicely with their seasonal learning.

In December and January, I also had the chance to visit incredible places like Valencia, Barcelona, Lyon, and Paris. Exploring these cities has been amazing, and I’m excited to visit even more countries in the coming months.

My first month as a language assistant

Hello, friends!

My name is Michelle Gonzales, and I am currently a language assistant for kindergarten through 3rd grade. I am thrilled to be here in Spain to learn and grow both as an assistant and as an individual. Although I don’t speak Spanish yet, I’ve started taking classes and am thrilled to improve.

I am originally from San Antonio, Texas, but I live in Denver, Colorado, USA. At the moment, I am studying Health and Exercise Science, but this experience has inspired me to pursue teaching in the future. There is so much to learn in both this role and living in Spain, and I’m excited for the months ahead.

In my kindergarten classes, I teach foundational subjects like numbers, animals, emotions, shapes, and more—all in English. 

For 1st grade, I follow the units from their textbooks, covering topics like family and parts of the house, also in English. 

For 2nd grade, we’ve been exploring topics like vertebrates and invertebrates as well as the phases of life. We cover a lot in just one month! 

For 3rd grade, we go deeper into the same topics that the 2nd graders are learning, providing more explanations and additional details.

One of my favorite weeks so far has been the last week of October, when we celebrated Halloween! It was such a fun experience seeing all the kids come in wearing costumes and getting into the Halloween spirit. I organized activities where they made their own Halloween masks while also learning vocabulary like "ghost" and "zombie."

I am extremely grateful for this opportunity, and I am excited for all the experiences and lessons the upcoming months will bring.