First Grade Reading and Math RTI with Silly Sam

BA in Psychology MA in Elementary Education NY/NJ Certified Elementary Teacher 30 years of Curriculum Writing in LA, Math, Science and Social Studies 34 Years teaching experience from Pre-K-9th Grade, NY/NJ 30+ Student Teachers from 6 Colleges and Programs It has been my most amazing pleasure to act as a Cooperating Teacher and Mentor for more than 30 Student Teachers and New Teachers, from differing programs. Many of them have been former first graders from my class. It has been such an honor to see the world through their eyes, twice! Once as a 6 year old and again as a brand new member of the education community. Each time, I learn so much from them and re-energize my own teaching by experiencing that enthusiasm once again, first hand. I hope to send them off with strong classroom management skills, creative teaching techniques and a bold sense of their very own teaching philosophy. I have experience teaching every grade from Pre-K-9th grade. Most of my career however, has been spent as a First Grade Teacher, and a 2nd grade Basic Skills Teacher. Now, I get to teach 1st and 2nd Grade Basic Skills, full time. I spent five years as the regular education partner in an In Class Support team. There, I had opportunities to work with Special Education students as well as Counselors, Psychologists, Behavior Specialists and Social Workers. I have written curriculum for every subject area taught in First Grade and have served on many committees to select textbooks and evaluate needs for the district. I love my work!

MAKE LEARNING FUN! Laugh, Connect, Get to Know your students and their interests. Let them know about yours, too. That's what keeps them attending, that's what keeps them listening, participating, laughing, thinking, questioning, remembering. That's what keeps them LEARNING! Make each lesson so much fun that they don't even realize they are learning. Silly Sam can help you do that! My specialties in my classroom are: Classroom Management, Motivation, Mindfulness, Caring Classroom, Visualization Techniques, Cooperative Learning, Differentiation, Brain Based Learning and Enrichment Opportunities. My goal is to have each student feel comfortable and safe to take learning risks and for every student to advance and meet their potential. The motto in my classroom is that there is "Never nothing to do". Every student will be provided with learning opportunities at their level, whether it be critical thinking, re-teaching or enrichment. I have a little class mascot named Silly Sam that I started doodling when I was 10 years old. He acts as a motivator for my students and provides many opportunities for shout-outs for them. They love earning COMPLIMENT CARDS that are a quick way to send home a note and share about things they were doing Right today. They enjoy earning Silly Sam Compliment Tags and are proud to show their families their achievements in school.

Teacher of the Year Curriculum Writer Cooperating Teacher Mentor Teacher Teacher Presenter: *Technology In Primary Schools (TIPS) NJ Teacher's Convention Atlantic City, NJ *Science Curriculum with the new NGSS Standards *Writer's Workshop in the Primary Classroom

Binghamton University, N.Y.: Bachelor of Arts in Psychology Dowling College, N.Y.: Masters Degree in Elementary Education

I am originally from L.I., N.Y. I have taught in New York and New Jersey.