After reading, Let me Hear Your Voice”, by Catherine Maurice, I felt relieved.  Maurice (she writes under a pseudonym) explains how her daughter Anne-Marie lives her life as an Autistic child.  After reading just the first page, I knew I could relate to her story.  I saw my own son’s behavior when he was first born in the same light.  He was such a good quiet baby who could play for hours, just like Anne-Marie in the book.  For example, she tells about how  Anne- Marie used her thumb and pinky to try and pick up food, ( as opposed to the normal pincer grasp) and how well she behaved for babysitters.  In isolation, those behaviors may mean nothing, but together with other habits and behaviors add up to possible Autism.  Maurice unfortunately also had a son Michael who was Autistic as well.  She tells the story so beautifully, that the reader can’t help but feel they are going through the ordeal as well.  Because I found this story so real and wonderfully written, I would recommend it to all parents and teachers of Autistic children.

My old college friend and I always wanted to open up our own daycare center from my house.  We both had good teaching jobs after college, so it was put on hold for a couple of years until I had children. I then wanted to stay home and open up my day care center, but my friend was not even married yet, and was happy at her job. I was scared to do it by myself, so again it was put on hold.  She had twins and was in no shape or form about to start a new business.  Yet again, it was put on hold.  Today I am still thinking about it since I have the perfect house for it (two family) .  I would love to have my own business and run my day care from home.  I love children, and if I could, I would have had more of my own.  My friend is now a single mom who is the bread winner for her family, and in this economy does not want to take any chances starting a new business.  If anyone is interested, maybe we can talk?!

I am sure that I am like everyone else who had ever purchased a scratch off  lottery  ticket from the store………dream about being a millionaire!  “All you need is a dollar and a dream.”  I had both.  That familiar quote came to mind while I purchased the hopeful winning ticket.  Scratch off one number, then another, slowly one more.  To make a long story short, I did not win.  However, when I gave birth to my first born son, I felt that I not only hit the jackpot, but I was a millionaire.  All the money in the world can’t buy health, and I had that too.

When I started teaching twenty years ago, I used a piece of white chalk and a felt eraser on a blackboard.  Now when someone uses the term blackboard, they automatically think of the computer postings for assignments!  Technology has changed the classroom for the better.  There is a program in the Merrick school district called READ 180, which is geared to improve remedial reading students performance.  The students wear headphones and have microphones that they use to listen to a story and answer questions.  Studies have shown student progress to be amazing with this new program.  I have now replaced my old blackboard with a new smart board that does not leave a white chalk residue on all of my clothing.  Thank you technology.

I fondly remember my fourth grade teacher Mrs. Ruth Campana.  She had a very beautiful, heavy southern accent, which followed her from North Carolina.  Mrs. Campana was my inspiration to become a teacher. I actually sent her a letter to thank her for inspiring me to become a teacher.  (I did some sub work in my old elementary school when I first started teaching and ran into some of my old teachers who kept in touch with Mrs. Campana).  Fine works of art adorned her classroom.  She taught the class a lot of poetry, and encouraged me to write my own.  I remember one saying she had posted on top of the front blackboard that read the following:  “Don’t hurry, don’t worry, and don’t forget to smell the flowers.”  She explained to the class that we should never be too busy with anything,  to not be able to stop for a moment and enjoy life.  I try to remember that in my daily living, but for some reason, I just can’t seem to have enough time in  a day to actually enjoy the moment.  I hope to make a valiant effort from now on to do so, in memory of Mrs. Campana.

The very first year I taught, I wanted to write a book about the experience.  I actually started writing, but then for some reason I stopped.  I wish I hadn’t because I look back on the experience with fond memories, and enjoy reminiscing.  Most things never changed.  For example, leaving my classroom to go home for the day at 6:00 pm, or finding the joy on my students facial expressions with that, “Ah ha moment”.  Some things that did change were the age of my students, and the class that I taught.  I started out my career teaching elementary students and now I teach high school students. There are pros and cons to teaching both age groups, so I guess one day I will write that book on that premise!

When I first heard about Common Core Standards last year, I thought it was a wonderful idea!   I thought that it would make more sense, and  I compared it to the,” No Child Left Behind”, idea that was put in place to,” save every child”.  Added to the Common Core Standards was the Annual Professional Performance Review, aka APPR, and you have another recipe for disaster.  A Common Core Curriculum is a great focus to have in place, especially in cases when children are moving from one school to another.  HOWEVER, the APPR is not advantageous to teachers for many reasons.  Each year a teacher is given a class.  Teachers are not given the opportunity to pick their own students, therefore they work with what they have.  Many of us have students who are mainstreamed into regular education classes, and are required to be held accountable for their performance on tests.  How can that be fair?  Why should one teacher be judged by their students overall performance on tests?  Why should they be held accountable if a child does not pass their class?  Why is it always the teachers fault? My students take a national test at the end of the year.   Last year I had 100 percent pass for the first time.  I did not do anything different, however, I did have a very bright group of students.  If the people who make these outrageous laws would step one foot in a classroom and teach, I would have more respect for them and the laws they create.

I have a passion for helping others when they are in need.  I am very involved with my parish Cure of Ars.  We have a parish social ministry, and if one needs help with food, shelter or the like, they can come to the social ministry office and receive help.  I volunteered to help a young girl who was being abused by her husband and needed a place to stay.  She had a newborn baby to care for.  All she had with her was the clothes on her back and a metro card.  She and her baby stayed with me for two years.  I will never forget the impact the two of them left on my life.

Another passion I have is baseball.  My favorite team is the New York Yankees.  I remember watching the game on television with my late grandfather.  My father took me to my first baseball game at Shea Stadium to see the New York Mets play the New York Yankees in what is called a subway series.  It was one of the most exciting games I have ever seen.

Ever since I was a young girl, I wanted to be a teacher.  I loved playing school with my younger sister.  She was such a good student, and always listened to me.  I would make up math problems for her to solve, and then correct them.  If she didn’t understand something, I would gladly explain it to her in great detail.  This was the procedure throughout our whole life together.  When it was time for me to leave for college, I told my sister to call me anytime with problems she had. It was easy for me to pick a career path early in life because of my little sister.  She was the greatest inspiration to me.