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Mr. Carmela Simmons
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Millsap Elementary School
Hometown:
Cypress, Texas
Class Information:
Room Number: 34
Students per Class: 21
Class Description:
I have 21 students who are very helpful, and caring, eager learners. They are very serious when they write about themselves and have a lot to say! My class is a fantastic group of very diverse children. Some have special needs, some are learning to speak English. They come from families who have means and families who are struggling financially. It is a true reflection of the future of our country, a little bit of everything that makes us the great melting pot of the world. I am hoping to use digital cameras to document and illustrate their topics: such as my family, my favorite place in Cypress for Social Studies, plants and how they grow... Every subject that can be documented on a digital camera is an opportunity for writing! We are very excited about our upcoming hatching of chicks, growing beans, and the new school butterfly garden project.
Position:
1st Grade
Needs:
I would like to have at least four basic digital cameras to share with the children. We would train the kids on the use of digital cameras in class and then loan them out for the children to use to take pictures at school or after school. They could then use them to illustrate stories or for story starters. Digital collages and PowerPoint or Story Starter presentations are just the beginning of ways the kids can use this technology. They already have fantastic dreams of ways to incorporate this technology.
My Philosophy:
I believe that each child has unique gifts that he or she can share with us all. Some are natural artists. Others are gifted in observation and are natural scientists. I have future leaders, writers, musicians, doctors, engineers, and philosophers in my classroom. They are still young and the paths they will take may be long, but I have the priviledge and honor of joining them for a short part of that journey and to try to encourage them along their way.
Personal Information:
About Me:
I am blessed to be a first grade teacher at a school that encourages me to pursue some of my dreams to be creative and "out of the box". I was born in Syracuse, New York. My father worked with Gulf Oil and we moved around a bit, allowing us to meet people and make friends in many places. I attended schools in Pittsburgh, Ft. Lauderdale, Key Biscayne, and Lima, Peru. I enjoy reading, writing, learning to use technology, traveling and meeting people from other places. I am married to Mark, a very tall kid who loves kites, model rockets, and other toys. I have three wonderful children, Leela, a beautiful senior at St. Edward's University, Bridges, a cute tall teen who works at Chili's, and Claire, a gorgeous high school sophomore who enjoys modelling and drama. Yes, I am proud of them!
College and Degrees:
BA in Spanish Literature- Colgate University M.Ed.- Bilingual Elementary Education-Boston Univ.
Activities:
Girl Scout Leader Boy Scout Leader
Favorite Books:
The Book of Ruth in the Bible The Giving Tree - Shel Silverstein Dr. Seuss -all of them!
Favorite Quotes:
"Make ye the world a little better or more beautiful because you have lived in it." - Edward Bok "The world needs a sense of worth, and it will achieve it only by its people feeling that they are worthwhile." "The older I get, the more convinced I am that the space between communicating human beings can be hallowed ground." -Fred Rogers
Interests:
nature, travel, books
Employment History:
taught ESL in Peru at college and elementary level Bilingual Education consultant in RI 2 years ESL teacher in Spring Branch, Texas 5 years Homeschoolteacher 3 years ESL teacher Millsap Elementary, Cy-Fair, Texas 8 years
Why Do I Teach?:
I have the honor of teaching because it is a gift that I am able to share with young people and their families. I believe that all of us have gifts that we can share with others. Sharing them brings us our greatest joys!