Maribel’s First Day

Maribel Rivera is a new student at West High School. During this one school day, she will go to five teachers’ classrooms and describe what she sees, hears and determines how she will judge these experiences. She will assess and analyze the school, the staff, the teachers, and the instruction. As she discovers what is happening at the school for other students, she decides if the environment will contribute to her present search for identity and survival.

Maribel describes her experience as she travels to each classroom. As each teacher provides instruction in their perspective subjects, her own private thoughts form dialogue. Four of the five teachers teach regular track students and one teaches a Pre-Advanced Placement class. All the teachers are Anglo. Maribel spends one whole period with each teacher as she experiences the instructional lessons, guided practice, and student interactions. She also experiences the culture of each classroom as dictated by both the teacher and the students. Throughout the day, Maribel speaks to God.