The Helpful Tacos

The Helpful Tacos are two teachers on opposite ends of teaching experience. Ms. Millennial Taco is in her first year of full-time teaching after 7 years as a tutor and preschool assistant. Ms. M. also served in the California Mini-Corps as a migrant tutor for two years. At the other end of the teaching spectrum is Ms. Seasoned Taco. She has 30+ years of teaching experience in three different states that include preschool, middle school and high school. Ms. S. has taught full-time in the regular classroom as well as summer school, after-school programs, tutoring, substituting and too many others to remember! Together they have found a wonderful harmony of energy, fresh perspective and practical experience.

As a first-year teacher Ms. M. is creative and energetic. Her first act as a preschool teacher was to rearrange the furniture that had grown roots! Ms. M. did not speak fluent English until she was in Jr. High School. She has brought first-hand knowledge of how a Spanish speaker most easily learns English. She is also the computer expert. Ms. S., on the other hand, could not speak Spanish when she first started teaching preschool and was in culture shock when her first preschool class spoke almost exclusively in Spanish! Her teaching style was immediately focused on tactile, sensory, visuals and realia. Coming from a Home Economics background helped. Many years of experience also made Ms. S. very structured. Together, The Helpful Tacos have combined structure with innovative ideas that has made a positive, strong chemistry in the classroom!

While serving in the Mini-Corps, Ms. M. was recognized with an Achievement Award for her “…academic excellence and personal commitment to the migrant students." The highest teaching honor Ms. S. received was when she was visited by a former student carrying her 8th grade yearbook. The student had returned to thank Ms. S. for being her teacher in 8th grade. According to the student, she said she had gone into the teaching profession herself because of the example Ms. S. had been in her life.

Ms. M. received a B.S in Liberal Studies from La Verne University and holds a Child Development Permit from the state of California. Ms. S. graduated cum laude with a B.S. from Fresno State University. She attended a fifth year to receive a single-subject teaching credential in Home Economics. She has since received her multiple-subject teaching credential for grades K-12.

Ms. M. was born in Mexico and came to the United States in 4th grade. She is married and has a three-year-old son. Ms. S. is a third generation Hispanic that was born and raised in California. She has two grown daughters, two granddaughters and one grandson. Together the Helpful Tacos have joined forces to produce simple, yet effective activities and lessons that are designed to assist both English and Spanish speaking teachers. These lessons are meant to help Spanish speaking students transition into English. As time allows, they will be uploading many of their classroom activities that will include phonetic pronunciations of Spanish words. The Helpful Tacos hope you are delighted with their materials and thank you for your interest. Muchas gracias!