This post was created in partnership with the Stiletto Blogger Network and Univision. However, all opinions expressed herein are my own. Ever since I was a little girl, I can remember how beloved novelas/soap operas were in our home. My Aunt, who was a teacher, would use the VHS to record her favorite stories during the day when she was at work and unable to watch them. In the evening, my sister and I would sit with her captivated by the intriguing characters and their dramatic lives. This is exactly what initially drew me to watching the telenovela Lo Que La Vida Me Robo on Univision, its colorful protagonists and their complicated drama. My favorite character, and the one whom I can relate to the most, is Montserrat Mendoza. She is the female protagonist who is a a young noble woman, willing to make any sacrifice for her family. Unfortunately, she carries the financial future of her entire family on her shoulders and has to marry into money in order to … [Read more...]
Connect With Your Favorite Novela Characters Anytime! #MyNovela @Univision #Giveaway #Ad
Join Us For The #MyNovela “Lo Que La Vida Me Robó” Twitter Party with @Univision #Ad
This post was created in partnership with the Stiletto Blogger Network and Univision. However, all opinions expressed herein are my own. If you are like me, you love shows with the reoccurring themes of power, love, family, betrayal and wealth. Add these themes to a novela/soap opera and you have gotten my immediate attention. That is why I just can't stop watching “Lo Que La Vida Me Robó” which is a Mexican novela that is set in a colorful village called Aguazul. Don't just take my word for how juicy their story lines are, go peruse some previews of the show on the dedicated novelas video page. You will be introduced to protagonists who are driven by some of the same hopes and aspirations that you and I have. Just like in real life, these characters are faced with adversity along with the intrusions of controlling parents and competitive friends who revel in stirring up drama, instigating financial hardships and generally making life seem impossible at times. Not only … [Read more...]
What Is The Definition Of Today’s Family? #LaFamiliadeHoy #Ad
*This is a compensated campaign in collaboration with Johnson & Johnson and Latina Bloggers Connect. Recently I was having a conversation with my mother about when my siblings and I were growing up and she commented that times have certainly changed since she and my father were raising us. Mom went on to say that today's modern families have a lot more issues to deal with than the families of yesterday. In her opinion, today's parents have so many more factors that they have to consider when protecting their children including the Internet, advances in technology, and other external influences related to music and the media. "One thing that hasn't changed," she concluded, "is the importance of instilling family values, regardless of what your family dynamics are." I would have to say that I agree with my Mom on many of these points. The question then becomes, "What is the definition of today's family?" My husband and I certainly consider ourselves a modern … [Read more...]
21st Century Education-Con Qué Se Come Eso? @Univision #EsElMomento #Latism
Many times, when the question arises about what 21st century education looks like and sounds like in today's classrooms, we look at each other with that proverbial quizzical look that we embody in Spanish with the saying, "Con qué se come eso?" Basically asking, "What does that even mean?" The truth is that there are so many theories and methodologies about education floating around that it is sometimes hard to keep up with what works and what doesn't. I have a unique perspective on education in this century due to my over 13 years experience as a New York City public school teacher. During my tenure, I have had the opportunity to observe firsthand some of the issues with our current educational system as well as celebrate some of its victories. One particular victory being the recent consensus that has been reached regarding implementing a common core curriculum across the entire United States. It was a necessary step that had to be taken because there have always … [Read more...]
Improving Latino Graduation Rates Through Parental Involvement
As an educator, I cannot even begin to stress the importance of parental involvement to a child's academic success. This is especially true for Latino students who face a myriad of unique obstacles that are not faced by other students. At the forefront of some of these obstacles is the language barrier that some of them struggle with due to not having a command of the English language. They are often caught between speaking Spanish at home to their family and attempting to become fluent in a second language at school. Sometimes Latino parents are discouraged from taking part in their child's academic progress because language barriers and social class issues prevent them from having the confidence to be proactive in their education. Schools need to adopt more flexible academic programs that take into account the diversity of the communities that they are servicing. This will open many doors for those children who have parents that are not able to expose them to traditional … [Read more...]