I began as a high school English teacher before transitioning into Special Education. I had discovered that I enjoyed finding creative ways to make English accessible to students of all abilities through thoughtful scaffolding and support. Eventually, my adventurous spirit took me overseas to Istanbul, Turkey, where I taught English as a foreign language for three years. There, I used ESL teaching strategies to further develop students’ listening, speaking, reading, and writing skills. I was also able to find a creative outlet in designing teacher created ESL resources specifically for speaking and listening activities since our school curriculum was seriously lacking in authentic language opportunities.
After returning to the U.S., I knew I found my teaching niche. I earned my MA in TESOL from the University of Texas at San Antonio and was hired by a local school district where I have been for 13 years. It is an honor to support and empower English learners here in the United States, giving them the same type of love and acceptance I had received in Istanbul. Language may be regional, but love is absolutely universal. ❤️🌎
I enjoy being a support for ESL teachers and sharing engaging lessons that develop students’ fluency in all four language domains: listening, speaking, reading, and writing. I would say my teaching style is:
🍎 differentiated
🍎 student centered
🍎 gradual release of responsibility
I love learning, and here are just a few of the milestones from my educational journey.
✏ 3 years English & SPED
✏ 3 years English EFL in Istanbul
✏ 13 years English ESL in San Antonio
🎓 Bachelor’s in Secondary English Education
🎓 Master’s of Science in Special Education
🎓 Master’s Certificate in TESOL (Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages)
As I enter my next decade of teaching, I find myself drawn to supporting teachers as much as students. I have presented at numerous PDs to ESL and mainstream teachers on:
💡 Small Moves, Big Gains© 2025
💡 7 Steps to a Language-Rich, Interactive Classroom© 2024
💡 Increase Active Listening in the Classroom 2023
💡 Increasing Engagement with Plickers™ 2022
💡 Personalized Photographs Enhancing the Classroom 2019
Patty, M., Reyes, L., Rodriguez, K, & Vetter, P.
Presented at TCEA Convention & Exposition, San Antonio, TX
Necessity is the mother of invention, right? When I was hired for my first ESL teaching position in San Antonio, I didn’t have a curriculum at all! Determined to give my students the best education possible, despite feeling set up to fail, I would order enough Thai take-out on a Friday night to last me the weekend. I spent hours developing robust lessons, and today, I offer them to you: generally for less than $1 a day. Why? Because I know you are also dedicated to student success, but your time is limit and most importantly, it is precious!
🍎 Teacher’s Pay Teacher’s Teacher Author since 2012
Outside of teaching, life is a bit busy. My husband, also a teacher, and daughter both keep me on my toes. Anyone else in the same boat?
As a family, we love traveling and spend many of our breaks getting out of San Antonio. Our daughter has been spoiled with a few plane trips and a cruise to Mexico.
Before our daughter, some of our favorite places we got to visit were Belize, Bali, and Singapore. I love Canada the most, and my husband loves Australia the most which is basically the southern hemisphere’s Canada.
The best part of travel? Learning about other cultures and making new friends. This world is huge and each connection is a blessing.
Thanks for dropping by!
