New Haven – Hillhouse High School veteran history teacher Glenda Reyes announced she will step down on Nov. 12, ending a 14‑year tenure that has centered on “sheltered content” classes for English‑language learners. Her freshman ancient‑world course, which recently explored ancient Egypt, combines core history instruction with intensive English vocabulary practice.
Building Language Skills Through History
Reyes begins each unit by introducing key terms—words such as “pyramid,” “mummy,” “pharaoh,” and “hieroglyphics”—paired with vivid photographs. Students write the terms on whiteboards, repeat them aloud, and often hear the pronunciation repeated in Spanish to reinforce understanding.
During a recent lesson, student Musa misspelled “pyramid” as “byramid.” Reyes corrected him gently, emphasizing the correct sound before he rewrote the word correctly. The class of eight then matched fifteen new vocabulary words to corresponding images, practicing each term aloud and discussing meanings, such as defining “afterlife” as “when the soul leaves the body.”
Interactive Activities Foster Confidence
Reyes uses rapid‑recall drills, giving students only 15 seconds to write the correct word after a picture appears. The small class size allows her to call on each student individually, ensuring everyone receives personal attention—a stark contrast to her earlier classes of up to 25 students, which she described as “much harder to teach effectively.”
Students also connect new words to personal experiences. When the word “jewelry” appeared, Musa linked it to the abundant jewelry of his native Guinea, helping him remember the English term. Other students proudly identified their own backgrounds, such as a classmate from Nicaragua.
Personal Stories and Future Plans
Reyes, who immigrated to the United States at age three and learned English through movies and television, often shares her own language‑learning journey to inspire her students. “Even if I didn’t understand it, I just listened to how they said the words,” she told the class.
Beyond the classroom, Reyes has organized unique learning experiences, including bringing a Holocaust survivor and a Rwandan refugee to speak, and raising $30,000 for a student trip to Costa Rica. She says her ultimate goal has always been to help students “understand and recognize the words so that they can use them.”
Looking ahead, Reyes plans to move into school administration, hoping to support new teachers and continue shaping education from a leadership role. Her colleagues and students expressed deep gratitude, with many offering hugs and heartfelt goodbye letters.
Community Impact
Reyes’ sheltered‑content model demonstrates how small, focused classes can bridge language barriers while delivering rigorous academic content. Her approach aligns with New Haven’s broader commitment to supporting immigrant families and preserving strong, faith‑centered community values.
Original reporting: New Haven Independent — read the source article.
