SCHOOL EMAIL: corraom@northshoreschools.org
ABOUT MRS. CORRAO
Welcome
to the 2011-2012 school year! My name is Mrs. Corrao, and I am your 7th
grade English teacher. This is my fourth year teaching at North Shore Middle
School (NSMS) and, since coming on board, I have learned a lot about your
school, your community and the wonderful people who are a part of it. I am eager
to get to know you, the students, who are the nucleus of it all, but first, I’d
like to share with you some things about me.
I
wasn’t always an English teacher. Prior to obtaining a master’s
degree in secondary English education, I worked for a public relations
firm for about two years. I soon realized that my love of reading and writing
was something that I wanted to share with young people, and so I decided to
leave my cushy job in New York City, go back to school full-time, and pursue my
dream.
Before
NSMS I taught in New York City and Westchester, but, missing my family, I came
back to Long Island and landed here, on the doorstep of North Shore Middle
School, with an uncapped pen and an open book.
Speaking
of books, my favorites include Harry
Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone by J.K. Rowling, Life of Pi by Yann Martel, Gone
with the Wind by Margaret Mitchell,
Catcher in the Rye by J.D. Salinger, Pride
and Prejudice by Jane Austen (my all-time favorite author), and Ulysses by James Joyce. I stopped here
because if I continued to list my favorites, I’d have to create an addendum to
this letter!
Why
do I love to read so much? Reading about other people’s experiences, fiction or
non-fiction, allows me to escape into an alternate world where I can envision
the characters and situations and relate them to my own life. I am lucky to
have been exposed to many reading strategies both in and out of school, which
help me make the most out of any book. For instance, I often flag significant
moments or parts of the book that I think are the building blocks of what is to
come so that I can easily refer back to them in order to make connections later
on. I also reread sections that I don’t understand, sometimes until my eyes
fall out, or talk to someone who is reading or has read the same book; doing so
helps me make sense out of whatever it is I am confused by and also allows me
to share my insights with others.
Aside
from my passion for reading, writing, and teaching, I also enjoy running,
weight training, yoga, kickboxing, spinning, baking, and gardening (the last
two are relatively new endeavors). I also like spending time with my family and
friends, especially hanging out with my husband Rich and my five-month-old baby
girl Ava Florence. It’s so much fun to watch Ava take in the world around her.
Two of her latest feats are rolling over and babbling consonant sounds.
I
think I’ve covered enough about me for now so in my final note, I turn to you.
My overarching goal for you, my students, is to create a comfortable and safe classroom
community where everyone contributes in a positive way. I also want to enrich
your reading and writing experiences so that they are both enjoyable and thought-provoking.
In order to do this we have to be a team; therefore, I encourage you to talk to me whenever you have a question or
concern. The best way to reach me is via email at: corraom@northshore schools.org.
I usually arrive at school around 7:30 every morning and am also available
during extra help hours.
I
look forward to an exciting reading and writing filled year!
Sincerely,
Mrs. Corrao