•  Staff Photo
    Department:  Bilingual
    Ext: x34215
     
    Hello and welcome,
     
    My name is Ali Rodriguez, Jr. and I am a 5th grade bilingual teacher of science and social studies at William C McGinnis Middle School in Perth Amboy.  I have been teaching for 25 years in Perth Amboy and enjoy teaching, communicating with parents and interacting with students.   A little about myself is that I earned an Associate's degree in Liberal Arts: Social Work from Middlesex County College and then went on to Kean University where I changed my major to education and earned my Bachelor's degree in Education.  After a few years, I continued my graduate studies at New Jersey City University (NJCU) in Jersey City where I earned my Master's Degree in Urban Leadership and Administration.  I earned my Principal's license and in the future may explore administration.
     
    As a 5th grade bilingual teacher at William C McGinnis Middle School, I enjoy implementing project based learning (PBLs) infused learning.  I believe students learn best when they are engaged in projects and activities that spike in their interest, talents and academic abilities.  Presently in science students are creating a "Photosynthesis" project and implementing their ideas and creativity in demonstrating the process of photosynthesis and how plants grow.  In addition to the project students are required to write a 5 paragraph essay explaining what "photosynthesis" is to them, the importance, and how it relates to the project they have created.