Autobiography

I am a wife, mother of 3 teenage girls, special education tutor and graduate student.  When I am not offering guidance and accolades to my students, typing away for one of my online courses, dirtying every bowl and utensil in the kitchen baking, sewing quilts for my daughters, working barefoot in my garden, orchestrating a cookout, shouting out answers to Jeopardy questions with my family, or enjoying a sail with family and friends, I can be found in our family room with my secret pleasure....a book!

I am happy to say that I rediscovered reading for pleasure many years after college and definitely after my daughters were reading on their own.  Initially, as a way to connect with my girls at school, I volunteered in their elementary school library.  Here, I met a dynamic and knowledgeable librarian who introduced me to good children's literature.  I saw how the children reacted to her and retained the skills that she taught them while skillfully incorporated into a lesson or game.  In addition to this volunteer role, I also was a Junior Great Books volunteer who worked with small groups of 1st graders exploring and analyzing literature.  I was amazed at the connections and critical thinking that I was able to facilitate with the children.  I saw first hand how much enrichment a book could bring to a child.  

Since the fall of 2008, I have worked as a math tutor and special education tutor.  I have been able to work with some wonderful teachers who have been receptive to a variety of resources that I have found to enrich the curriculum.  While the needs of the students I work with require differentiated instruction at times, the additional resources that I bring to the classrooms benefit all the children.  I see the library as a way to support cross curriculum learning and as a vital hub of the school learning community.  The thought of being an integral part of this cooperative environment in the role of a librarian is both exciting and empowering.