by Jeffrey Stanley
"This is my classroom," she said, pointing to a cart loaded with
books, musical instruments, and other portable classroom necessities.
Myriam Juarbe wheels it from room to room when she teaches Spanish to
BFS Kindergarten through 4th graders, each grade three times a week for
30 minutes. This is a new endeavor for the school, and was only
launched in September. A former BFS parent and a native Spanish speaker
with a Masters in Bilingual Education, Myriam seems perfect for the
position. "It's a full-time job," she said, "and next year we'll have
an extra Kindergarten."
1. What did you have the kids do this first semester of having Spanish in the Lower School?
We started with everyone on the same level these first three
months. I said let's not bombard them, because they need some kind of
base. We learned colors, numbers, greetings. In February we'll start
with what they learned in English in their other subjects this fall.
So the Spanish courses will become content-based.
2. And you're also introducing them to Spanish-speaking
cultures, no? You took them to see Ballet Hispanico perform at the
Joyce Theatre and first you gave them a quick lesson in the mambo and
the cha-cha-cha.
[Performing Arts Chair and Preschool/Lower School dance teacher]
Margaret Bary took them, I accompanied them. This project was all
Margaret's baby. One of Ballet Hispanico's pieces was a Cuban dance so
we chose Celia Cruz, a famous Cuban performer. We also took the
opportunity to do some mapping. They knew that Columbus had landed in
Cuba so we looked at it on a map together. And I provided a Celia Cruz
CD that they danced to when we took them to the 5th floor dance studio.
It was meaningful to them I think.
3. They looked like they were having a good time that day. What are you going to do to follow that up?
The
first grade regularly does a study about neighborhoods. Last time they
walked through Brooklyn Heights we stopped and got empanadas. Whenever
it's possible we relate Spanish-speaking cultures to whatever they're
doing in the classroom. In the spring the second grade studies
communities. So for example when we talk about Russian culture we'll
visit a neighborhood like Brighton Beach which is predominantly
Russian. There's an area of Sunset Park where there's a very strong
Mexican community. We're going to visit the owner of a bakery to see
how they bake sweet bread. It's the same bakery where we ordered sweet
bread for Three Kings Day on January 6th.
4. Which is?
It's basically the Epiphany. Los Reyes Magos is
by far the most important holiday in Spanish-speaking countries. On the
night before January 6 children of all ages prepare, depending on the
country, boxes with grass and buckets with water for "Los Reyes Magos"
and their camels that have been travelling around the world delivering
presents. In Spain you just leave your shoes under the Christmas tree
so that "Los Reyes" know who to leave the presents for. It's a family
day where people visit each other and share food and presents.
5. Where does the sweet bread come in?
It's traditional
to eat "Rosca de Reyes", which is a special sweet bread in the shape of
a crown that has one figurine baby or more hidden inside. The person
who finds the baby is supposed to throw a party, or it means he or she
will have a lucky year, depending on the country. Each classroom in the
Lower School received a Rosca de Reyes and hot chocolate as a special
snack to celebrate. We also had a Lower School sing in the upper gym
that morning and sang De Tierra Lejana together. That's a song
that talks about Los Reyes Magos walking to Bethelehem following a star
that would guide them to find the good light.
6. Where are you from originally?Puerto
Rico. My undergraduate degree was in teaching English as a second
language there. Then at U. Mass Amherst I switched to bilingual
education. There it was the opposite from what I'm doing now. I was
teaching Spanish speaking students to maintain their skills on grade
level in Spanish while learning English. We'd bus kids in from all the
schools in the Amherst region. Within three years they were mainstream
students.
7. What'd you do after grad school?
I lived in London. I substituted as a Spanish teacher at the American School.
8. And how'd you wind up at BFS?
My son went here for
Kindergarten through first grade and I fell in love with the school.
He's now a student at Mary McDowell because he has special needs, but I
said to my husband if I ever go back to teach it has to be in a school
like BFS.
9. Then you got your wish?
Last summer in the BFS
newsletter, which I still read 5 years after my son left here, Dr. Nill
mentioned the need for a Lower School Spanish teacher to help develop a
curriculum. I called and told them I want to teach there. This is my
call, this is my passion. [Lower School Head] Jackie Condie always
likes to say, 'the right person found us."
10. What's your favorite part of your job?
Of course to
speak Spanish to them. I like that I get the feedback that I need from
my fourth graders. They're mature and communicative. I love the passion
that the younger kids put into their singing in Spanish. And I love
the passion I get from my kids. I like that I teach different years.
That makes it more exciting.
11. What's the worst part?
Not having a classroom. That's the only part that's not fun.
12. Do you ever go back to Puerto Rico?
I visit my family once a year, but this is home.
13. Where do you live now?
Carroll Gardens.
14. What's your favorite restaurant there?
We cook a
lot, but if we have a night out we go to Bar Tabac, a French bistro.
They have burgers, chips, mussels. It's a happy place, it's down to
earth.
15. What do you do when you're not busting heads at BFS?
I
have a 13-year-old and a 10-year-old son and two dogs. We usuallly go
for long walks. We go to Prospect Park and we just walk and let the day
go by.
16. Desert island question - what 3 things?
Of course my family and my dogs. A photo album. And my pillow.
17. A pillow?
I'm very picky for my pillow. It's a Tempurpedic full size pillow.
18. Got it. What's one thing that's always in your fridge?
Eggs. You can make anything with eggs. Quiche, omelets.
19. What's your sign?
Aquarius.
20. Does that mean anything to you?
I don't really follow it. My husband's also an Aquarius so I guess that's good.