Native Italian Certified Bilingual Teacher, Special Education Teacher

Mariella P.

Hello new student! I'm a native Italian NJ teacher certified in Special Education, K-5, Early Childhood, and Spanish.
* Master's in Foreign Languages, English major, Magna Cum Laude honors.
* Bilingual Italian and Spanish.
* Over 10 years experience with regular and special needs students of all ages.
* Member of ATA (American Translators Association)

My very first goal in teaching Italian, English, and Spanish literacy is to make it fun and interesting for the student. For instance, I like to use instructional songs because they are fun, and because it is a proven fact that music is the best mnemonic device to help with memory retention.

Born and raised in Sicily, I can also teach Sicilian. UNESCO (United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization with 194 member nations) recognizes Sicilian as a distinct minority and vulnerable language rather than an Italian dialect. It has an independent history derived from Vulgar Latin, shaped by Greek, Arabic, and Romance influences, and is spoken by roughly 5 million people.

As a special education teacher, my greatest capability is facilitating all styles of learners. I am experienced at modifying regular curriculum to fit the individual student's needs.

I develop multi-sensory lesson plans to meet the needs of auditory, visual, tactile, and kinesthetic learners. I also incorporate various forms of technology and manipulatives to teach new concepts and materials. This of course will vary depending whether the class is in person or online only.

I welcome the opportunity to meet with you to discuss how my skills may benefit your future academics.
I wish to benefit the students I work with as much as possible, therefore welcome any resources or suggestions students or family can provide. I am easy to reach and will always provide fast
responses. Feel free to contact me with any additional questions or to schedule a lesson!