Professional Profile:
I have taught at Sacred Heart School for ten years and am looking forward to teaching your children. I graduated from Temple University in Philadelphia. I have a Bachelors Degree in elementary/early childhood education and am continuing my education toward a Masters Degree at Alvernia University.

Personal Profile:

I was born and raised in Philadelphia. I moved to Lancaster County 13 years ago with my wife Donna and two children, Tim and Dana. I have been married for 24 years. Tim is starting the 2011 fall semester as a junior at Kutztown University working toward a degree in Social Work. Dana will begin her freshman year at Shippensburg University with a major in Business. I am one of seven children and am blessed with a very large extended family. I am an avid sports fan, especially baseball. My devotion belongs to the Philadelphia Phillies, Eagles and Sixers. I enjoy spending time with the family. Other pastimes are playing board games, reading and anything to do with history.

Overview of Curriculum:

Our third-grade class includes coverage of multiplication with regrouping and the start of long division. Comprehension and reading fluency are enhanced and reading skills are covered, especially story elements, sequence of events, cause/effect, and fact vs. solution. Social studies incorporates communities which includes a project where groups of students develop their choice of a business or service in a community. Science includes sources of energy and how we can better utilize renewable sources and various types of environments, such as rivers, deserts, and oceans.
 
Favorite Math & Language Arts Websites:

•  mathplayground.com 
• http://www.internet4classrooms.com/skills-3rd-langbuilders.htm  

 How to help your child succeed:

§  Talk to your child about what they are learning in school.

§  He or she should practice math facts for 15 minutes five nights a week and read for 20 minutes every night.
§  Homework should be done at a table or desk, with no tv, music or other distractions.

§  Listen carefully when your child talks about having difficulty with homework. Encourage him or her to break down problems into smaller steps.

§  Take your child to the library or have him or her borrow books from the school’s library or classroom. Read with them or ask about the story they are reading. This is a great way to wind down before bedtime.

§  Find opportunities while on the run to quiz them on math facts or vocabulary words (in the car, in the supermarket, in the doctor’s waiting room, etc.)

§  Have your child spend time with educational computer programs or websites, especially in areas of difficulty.
 

Our class trip:

Every year we try to take a trip to the Museum School, a one-room school house from the mid 1800s. The day is planned like a regular school day, but the children will experience lessons, lunch and recess toys from the 1800s. Many children even come dressed in period clothing!