Get to know a CBE

Sparking Curiosity with CBE of the Month Silvina Uzal

Posted by cemignano on

We’d like to introduce you to May’s Certified BrainPOP Educator of the Month, Silvina Uzal! Silvina became a CBE at FETC in 2018 and has 5 years of experience teaching 2nd and 3rd grade ELA, Social Studies, and Writing in Volusia County, FL. 

What inspired you to go into education?
My passion for teaching/explaining and guiding came at a young age (2nd grade) in Argentina. I had a friend that had a mental disability and I would do everything in my power to explain the work to him and celebrate him when he achieved anything. I taught my older sister how to tie her shoes and I continued finding ways to help and inspire people to reach their goals. 

What are you most passionate about when it comes to education, technology, and your approaches to teaching?
I am most passionate about that “aha moment!” And in this day and age technology lets you get that moment with all kinds of learners. Every student is different. They all come with their gaps, issues, or even amazing skills which you need to enrich! Technology allows you to do so! With all the available resources and all of the different approaches you can find and use, ALL students can reach that “aha moment.” 

How does BrainPOP support your educational passions and inspirations?
BrainPOP is the backbone of my teaching career, especially now during our remote teaching! It provides all kinds of topics that I teach and topics that my students are genuinely interested in, yet they are not in my “curriculum.” BrainPOP allows me to fill in gaps and enrich all at the same time! The vocabulary and activities provided allow students to really tap into their higher order thinking and pushes those students who think they “can’t.” 

How has BrainPOP sparked curiosity within your students?
With my third graders we started learning about historical figures and biographies. The students got sooooo into all of these different characters that they were begging me to give them time to watch videos on other historical characters that BrainPOP and BrainPOP Jr. provide. I noticed how they were logging in at home with their individual accounts and coming back with notes on these people. This inspired my “living biography” projects. Students got the choice to pick one historical figure from BrainPOP or BrainPOP Jr., and the students had to find specific information on these people using BrainPOP and a nonfiction book. Once they gathered all of the information required, students dressed up as these historical figures and presented their lives as if they were them! It was so amazing and inspiring! 

What’s on your BrainPOP wish list?
I wish, wish, wish that if schools weren’t willing or able to pay for a school subscription teachers would have the option to pay for a class subscription that provides individual logins. I love BrainPOP and I can’t imagine teaching without it. This year that almost happened. I was lucky enough that our principal applied for a grant and was able to pay for BrainPOP, but unfortunately that is never guaranteed. I would love to be able to know that if my school can’t buy it, I could buy it for my classroom and use it in the same capacity.