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   Photo courtesy of Mrs.
NurnbergerNancy Sasso Janis, BA, MAT,and former Computer Novice  About the
web master  Mrs. Janis
teaches first grade at Maple Hill School in Naugatuck, CT. She received her Bachelor of Arts
from Sacred Heart University in Fairfield in 1981 and was co-valedictorian of her graduating
class. She received her Master of Arts in Teaching
from Sacred Heart in 1989. This is her twenty-fifth
year teaching kindergarten or first grade. Her hobbies include
singing and shopping for children's books. As you may have
guessed, her favorite color is purple. Mrs. Janis' knowledge
of computer technology has steadily improved over the years and
she now serves as the technology trainer at Maple Hill. As such she has taught a workshop for fellow teachers on building a classroom web site using Netscape Composer and more recently
a workshop on teaching Treasures reading using a SMARTboard. Currently, five teachers have posted their site on Naugy.net that they built using the template she developed. This was her
first web site. She is also the web master for a site for each of her three sons and has taken over the Maple Hill School web site from Mrs. Sciacca.  Recording contemporary
Christian music of a friend
The gangs all here!
 Who
is that?
WHAT TEACHERS MAKE
The dinner guests were sitting around the table discussing life.
One man, a CEO, decided to explain the problem with education. He argued,
"What's a kid going to learn from someone who decided his best option in life was to become a teacher?" He reminded the other dinner guests what they say about teachers:
"Those who can, do. Those who can't, teach."
To stress his point he said to another guest; "You're a teacher, Bonnie. Be honest. What do you make?"
Bonnie, who had a reputation for honesty and frankness replied, "You
Want to know what I make? (She paused for a second,
then began...)
"Well, I make kids work harder than they
ever thought they could.
I make a C+ feel like the Congressional
Medal of Honor.
I make kids sit through 40 minutes of
class time when their parents can't make them sit for 5 without an I Pod, Game Cube or movie rental... You want to know what
I make?" (She paused again and looked at each and every person at the table.)
I make kids wonder.
I make them
question.
I make them criticize.
I make them apologize and mean it.
I
make them have respect and take responsibility for their actions.
I teach them to write and then I make them write.
I
make them read, read, read.
I make them show all their
work in math.
I make my students from other countries
learn everything they need
To know in English while
preserving their unique cultural identity.
I make my
classroom a place where all my students feel safe.
I
make my students stand to say the Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag,
Because we live in the United States of America.
Finally,
I make them understand that if they use the gifts they were given, work hard, and follow their hearts, they can succeed in
life.
(Bonnie paused one last time and then continued.)
"Then, when people try to judge me by what I make, I can hold my head up high and pay no attention because they are ignorant...
You want to know what I make?
I MAKE A DIFFERENCE. What
do you make?"
"Teachers make every other profession
" |
Five Things You Can Do To Help a Teacher
| 1. See your child's teacher
as a partner. Parents and teachers should work together in the best interest of the child. |
| 2. Work to achieve good teacher-parent
communication. Mrs. Bush favors a phone in every classroom so teachers can call parents if a child is absent or is missing
homework. |
| 3. Show an interest in your
child's education. Go to the school play or the class party. |
| 4. Volunteer, whether or
not you have children. Spend an hour a week reading with a child. |
| 5. Ask a teacher, "What
can I do to help?" Offer to do little things, such as cleaning a room or a cabinet. |
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| Photo courtesy of S. Nierendorf |
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E-mail me! 
