My name is Melissa and I grew up in St. Louis, MO and graduated from the University of Wisconsin - Madison with a Bachelor's degree in Elementary Education. I also holds a Masters degree in Childhood and Special Education from Mercy College. I have seven years of teaching experience in the New York Public Schools. I spent several years out of the classroom, raising my children until they were both were in school full time. I returned to teaching in 2018 as a substitute at multiple schools. The last 2 years I have been home schooling a child focusing on reading (using PAF), writing, and math. To better engage my students, I love teaching because it gives me the opportunity to watch my students grow and learn skills that they didn't previously have. I love to spark interest for learning and challenge them to reach their fullest potential. I think it's important to bring real life experiences into the classroom to give students a better understanding of the world around them.