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Learn More About Colleen's Experience:

elementary (k-6th) I have been a certified K-6 teacher since 2001. My concentrations were in history and science. I also hold a dual Masters in Special Education and Reading. My classroom experience has been in both inner city and suburban classrooms, and in a variety of different grades. In addition to classroom teaching, I have also tutored at different grade levels, including children with disabilities and reading difficulties. A variety of modalities were used in order to reinforce the concepts that were being taught. Observation, teacher-made materials, interview with parents, and a variety of other techniques are used to assess student strengths and weaknesses, as well as the best way for them to learn (auditory, visual, kinesthetic). physical science As a certified elementary educator, my concentration was split between history and science. I have more than 20 credits at the undergraduate level in science classes and currently co-teach a Regents Earth Science class in New York, including labs. Prior to co-teaching, I taught General Science/Physical Science for two years including labs, and how to write labs. The process of teaching the scientific method can be accomplished through fun and interesting hands-on projects. The material presented during these two years prepared students for the Regents level Earth Science classes that they were to take the following year. In addition to teaching physical science in the classroom, I have reinforced that knowledge in resource rooms as well as tutoring students to help them be more successful in the classroom. proofreading In 1988, I established my own business of medical transcription. I owned and operated this successful business for 20 years. In 1988, the business was transcribing dictations from doctors to put into patient charts. By 2003, the business had morphed into proofreading and editing reports that had been outsourced. Reports included patient notes, letters to other physicians, operative notes, etc. In addition to myself, there were two other individuals who I sent to. In addition to my business experience, I also teach English at the high school level, and editing and proofreading student work occurs on a daily basis. Creating a writer's workshop within my English class has helped the students learn from prior mistakes, and the use of a variety of resources (dictionaries, graphic organizers, spell checks, and rubrics), help the students prepare for the rough draft. Based on my prior experience as a successful business owner who edited and proofread materials on a daily basis for many years, and as a high school educator, I feel that I am more than qualified to edit, proofread and help students to finalize written work and projects. special needs I am currently permanently certified in New York State (K-12) as a special education teacher as well as a reading specialist (K-12). My experience has been in a variety of different settings, both at the elementary level where I was a push-in consultant, and currently where I am a self-contained 8:1:1 teacher at the high school level for students with behavioral difficulties. In my current position, I also co-teach an Earth Science regents class, mostly populated with students with disabilities. My philosophy is that all students have the ability to learn, but it is knowing how to "hook" the student into wanting to learn. As a special education teacher, it has been my experience to present materials in many different ways to address the needs of the auditory, visual, or kinesthetic learner. As a parent of a child with a disability, I have had the unique perspective to see both sides of education, and I bring that unique perspective to my teaching methods and in communicating with parents. Parents are an important part of the educational process, and communicating with them lets the parents and students know that everyone is working together to help the student be more successful.