"FitLit is a belief, the belief in turning what is neglected as a challenge, and all challenges can be overcome!"
Instilling the necessary meta- cognitive reading abilities during the stages of learning is not only challenging, but neglected. During the five years of working with Dido Balla and Katherine Leiva, they have both taught their students to self- question before, during, and after reading. Their belief in reflection has led to students automatically, self- question! The modeling process was rigorous yet beneficial. The outcome enabled students to feel comfortable speaking in social settings and engaging in academic discussions. How do I know? Dido Balla and Katherine Leivas’s classroom were next to mine, neighbors! I had the opportunity of having my first teaching experience with English Language Learners because of having them as neighbors! I witnessed, firsthand, the level of progression their students went through. As reflective thinkers, we were able to work very well together and formed a strong bond simply because we all share the love of self- improvement, professionally and personally. Now they have embarked on making the “neglected” part of learning not become a reality anymore. A 10 month school year leaves 2 months of down- time. This down-time leaves too much margin of error. What may have been learned in 10 months can easily be forgotten in the 2 months. FitLit is a belief, the belief in turning what is neglected as a challenge, and all challenges can be overcome !-
"Balla and Leiva are amazing mentors and coaches to people of all ages."
Balla and Leiva are amazing mentors and coaches to people of all ages. As a teacher and fitness neophyte, I started working out with them as a favor. Quickly, my perception of fitness and goal setting changed. Leiva and Balla were very encouraging throughout my workout process. They are both natural teachers and on a personal basis they developed me to set my own goals, follow proper training form, and understand what my body needs. I’ve had problems with my knee since very young, and Balla was helpful in modifying exercises to my ability. More so, I can tell that their coaching has developed their students into confident disciplined individuals that persevere through challenges. As mentors and coaches I couldn’t recommend them enough.
Further, I want to reiterate that although focused on fitness, Balla and Leiva are teachers first. Both are decorated veterans of MDCPS earning several accolades such as: Un Maestro Especial from Univision, Observational Classroom of the Year 2012 and 2013, and the Governor's Shine Award For Inspirational Teachers, among many others. Their personal involvement in their student’s goals is simply unheard of. Leiva has personally helped her students go through the college application process. All-in-all a program that leverages their strengths as teachers, coaches, and nutrition experts is superb!-
"I have lost 20 pounds and for me that is a lot. I used to eat a lot junk food but Leiva and Balla helped me learn how to control my food. Thanks to them I feel stronger, healthier, and I do not eat junk food like I used to."
I have met my second family and I know that I will always love them with all of my heart. I feel comfortable talking with them and practicing my English with them. Leiva and Balla are my two best friends, my teachers, and my parents. They are not only like this with me, but with all of the ESOL students. We are all an ESOL family and all of us love them like parents. When I knew that Balla and Leiva would always work out after school I was interested in joining them and I did. My sister and I started running and doing high intenisty interval training with them. Because of that I have changed a lot. I learned how to be healthy and strong. I have changed a lot. My body is not completely different. For me, that just shows that Balla and Leiva are the best. Right now Balla and Leiva are both my parents and my two best friends. I have learne so much because of them. I have lost 20 pounds and for me that is a lot. I used to eat a lot of junk food but Leiva and Balla helped me learn how to control my food. Thanks to them I feel stronger, healthier, and I do not eat junk food like I used to.-
"There’s nothing these two cannot do. I believe in both of them and their ability to impact people’s lives in so many different ways. When you meet them and have a relationship with them you’ll understand what it is like to have a second father and mother."
I would have never imagined that these two professors were going to be so important in my life. I didn’t just learn English from them; they made me who I am today. Every single day, every single minute with them was a valuable lesson for me. I didn’t just get more intellect but I also matured and became wise in a short period of time.These professors helped me graduate high school, they taught me the value of education, and they changed my physicqueas well. Three and a half years ago I was over 200 Lbs. The three of us started to work out to surpass our limits and have better bodies, and that we did! Leiva lost over 100 pounds, I lost 30 pounds of weight, and Balla gained 50lbs of pure MUSCLES! We became the elite group between us. Our lives changed and I believe we are capable and changing others' lives as well. There’s nothing these two cannot do. I believe in both of them and their ability to implact people’s live in so many different ways. When you meet them and have a relationship with them you’ll understand what it is to have a second father and mother.-
"Thanks to them I changed from being the lazy and rebelious girl at school to the efficient and kind of nerdy cool girl at school."
When thinking about teachers the first thing I used to think about was mountains of homeworks and people yelling at me for no reason. However, this mindset changed right in the moment that started going to school in this country (United States). This did not only happen because Leiva and Balla scared me to death the first day of school, but also because I noticed that their way of teaching and the way that they influenced their students was very different from the way the teachers in my country do. By showing me how valuable I am every time I felt like giving up, they made me a into a better person. Thanks to them I changed from being the lazy and rebel girl at school to the efficient and kind of nerdy cool girl at school. Teachers like Balla and Leiva are capable of making someone feel like they are everything, even when that someone feels like they are not. Considering them as the first and most faithful friends that I have since I came to this country, I used to stay after school every day to just talk to them. Although they are no longer my teachers at school, I still consider them as my teachers because they have taught me that life is all about making it worth waking up in the morning every day.-
"My favorite memories that are special to me are all the cool field trips that we have done together, especially Orlando. They really are my second family."
I think that Balla and Leiva know that I am lazy from working out and class time. The best part is that they never give up on me. Every time we get together I am excited because they really are my second family. I always spend time thinking and remembering some of the things that we do together. My favorite memories that are special to me are all the cool field trips wehave done together, especially Orlando. I am really hoping we can be able to go again. Leiva is cool and Balla is like my older brother. I really don't know why I feel more like the type of person that I want to be when we are all together. What I mean by this is that I feel comfortable with Balla and Leiva. I don't feel that way anywhere else.-
"Having Balla and Leiva as teachers was an excellent example that with great teachers and an open mind that is willing to learn you can achieve everything that you want."
Having Balla and Leiva as teachers was an excellent example that with great teachers and an open mind wanting to learn you can achieve everything that you want. Inside the classroom I can say that for me Balla and Leiva were my best English teachers. I’m an excellent student because of the things that they taught me. They were there for me when I needed them and they are still there for me now. They helped me and thanks to them I can say that I've grown as a student, a classmate, and a friend. They inspire me to be more than just a student, to be something else, to do something big. Thanks to them I’m part of the National Honor Society and now part of Mu Alpha Theta. Outside the classroom I have had incredible moments with them. Balla and Leiva are more than teachers for me, they are a part of my family. We share experiences and have had incredible moments together. One of those experiences was when we went to Orlando. I can say that I enjoyed the trip because of them and the ESOL squad. The only thing that I can say is thank you for everything that you guys have done for me.-
"Having Balla and Leiva not just as teachers or mentors, but also as friends can help anybody to succeed."
More than parents, more than just teachers and friends. That is how I describe Leiva and Balla. I came to United States 3 years ago, I didn’t have friends and I didn’t speak English. Since they saw the potential I had, they pushed me forward in order to make me reach my goals and this for them was just the beginning. Spending every single day with them helped me to define myself. To be honest, almost all I that I know and my perspective to see things and analyze before I act, comes from them. Spending a lot of time together, we have built a relationship greater than teachers and students. We have built up a family! Throughout the years that I had them as my teachers, friends and parents, my life has changed in a radical way. From being a regular guy, I have became a one of a kind guy. In other words, they helped me to see my flaws as advantages. Having Balla and Leiva not just as teachers or mentors, but also as friends can help anybody to succeed.-
"Balla, and Leiva can teach you anything from fitness to writing; but the best thing that they can teach you is to be yourself."
I have two moms and two dads. Obviously, my two biological parents, and then my two adoptive parents, their names are Leiva and Balla. They are very important to me because they support me with everything that I need. They help me, make me laugh, and make me cry. For instance, I do not like that people feel sorry for me , it is for that reason that I do not tell anybody about my sadness. However, one day I felt very sad and the only thing that I could think is that the world will be better without me. But, that changes my life because I tell them everything that make me sad, and make me felt sorry for myself. I cried like a baby when its hungry, and when I cried more, I felt better, and less fragile. Balla, and Leiva can teach you anything from fitness to writing; but the best thing that they can teach you is to be yourself. They can teach you to feel comfortable with yourself and to always, no matter what, love yourself. I have many memories with them, but I always remember when they were with me in my somber days. Everybody can be with you in the good moments, but only the people who appreciate you are the ones that stay with you when you are at your worst. Balla and Leiva are most than parents, they are angels. I will like to say that I have been adopted by two people that have my whole love and attention, and I will do anything for them.-
"Balla and Leiva had a bond with each student, rather than just being a teacher, they were more like friends, advisors, and persons to look up to."
I met Balla and Leiva, two professors of the “English as a Second Language” program (ESOL) my junior year in high school, shortly after arriving to the country from Nicaragua. At first I thought the class was going to be like all the ESOL classes that I took in the past--most of the professors that I had prior did not care that much about our education--However, I noticed something different the second I set foot in their classrooms, I saw how much they cared about the ESOL program. Balla and Leiva had a bond with each student, rather than just being a teacher, they were more like friends, advisors, and persons to look up to. I witnessed how students came to their classrooms after school just to talk about their personal problems and how they helped them throughout the year. Instead of being a “program” or a “class”, it felt more like big family in the way that everyone was helping each other inside and outside the class. My Senior year, they prepared Seniors for the FCAT, the ACT, and the SAT. By doing intensive reading, expanding our critical thinking, and teaching us how to see things in a different perspective. Thanks to their dedication, advocacy, and not giving up on us, I reached one of my goals which was graduating high school, and even now that I am in college, I still have contact with them, letting them know how I am with my classes or if I have any type of problems.-
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