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My name is Ms. Clifford
I'm originally from Yarmouth, ME.
My birthday is July 10th.
My family includes my son Josh and daughter Elizabeth. I also have a black lab named Sadie and two cats - Tigger and Isabelle.
I received a BS in Psychology from Lyndon State in Vermont. I also have a Master of Science in Education from University of Maine and a Master of Science in Counselor Education from Lakeland College. I have completed coursework in Early Childhood Education at Silver Lake College.
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My Teaching Philosophy:
Philosophy is a system for guiding life and "to educate" means to lift up, therefore, my vision is to guide and lift up each child as an individual by providing a positive learning environment and opportunities to experience the joy of learning for learning's sake.
Young children are wigglers and doers, therefore I believe learning and teaching should be fun and dynamic. For me, teaching is active (providing learners with "hands on, mind on" experiences), interactive (integrating language arts throughout the curriculum), and reactive (encouraging students to generate and explore their own questions and become engaged). Children actively construct knowledge through inquiry as the teacher guides and facilitates the process beyond the zone of proximal development. Children bring their unique interests, wonderings, abilities and talents to the educational process. Incorporating multiple intelligences and offering differentiated guidance is necessary to meet the needs of all the children. Our world is not compartmentalized and neither are the academic subject areas, therefore I promote the (International Baccalaureate) Primary Years Program transdisciplinary themes which are multidisciplinary and multidimensional; it knows no boundaries. It is also responsive to the interest, abilities and needs of the children and is respectful of their development, aptitudes and attitudes.
Education is a very human process and as such deserves to be a humanizing experience. I stress building a sense of community within the classroom where children are valued members and practice their personal attitudes which are at the heart of the International Baccalaureate Organization. Furthermore, as the world grows increasingly global, I am eager to help guide the process of valuing differences and moving beyond tolerance to understanding, respecting and celebrating our diversity. Additionally, I support families as full partners in the education of their children so that they may become learning teams and partners of success.
A precious gem is inside all children and I treasure each and everyone of them. Finally it is my ultimate responsibility to instill a love of learning that children will carry with them throughout their lives.
A Few of my Favorite Things!
Food: My mother's homemade (Maine) lobster stew.
Movies: "Little Women" - my daughter and I watch it every year during the holidays.
Books: Non-fiction and historical fiction
Music: All kinds: classical, jazz, soft rock, mild hip/hop and since I've relocated to Wisconsin - some 'country'.
Colors: Various shades of green.
Quote: "LISTEN TO THE MUSTN'TS" by Shel Silverstein
"Listen to the MUSTN'TS Child. Listen to the DON'TS.
Listen to the SHOULDN'TS, the IMPOSSIBLES, the WON'TS.
Listen to the NEVER HAVES, Then listen close to me -
Anything can happen child
ANYTHING can be."
Hobbies: Long distance biking, running, kayaking, cross county skiing, weight training, pilates, yoga, rock collecting and exploring the great outdoors!
Sports/Teams: Boston Red Sox
Time of Year: I enjoy each season! Winter - holidays, skiing, and the beauty of the first snow. Spring - rebirth of the natural world, and I can run and bike outside. Summer - outdoor activities, wild flowers, beaches and vacationing in Maine. Autumn - walking through fallen leaves and golden forests, returning to a classroom of energetic children full of curiosity and wonderings.
Strangest food you like: Seaweed and raw ginger.
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Destinations visited: I lived and taught in Japan for five years. I have visited Korea, Hong Kong, the Philippine Islands, Okinawa, Nova Scotia and Quebec. I have also lived in Montana for two years and visited Arizona, the Grand Canyon, Oregon and the New England area extensively.
Dream Vacation: Any place where I may explore interesting geological sites and different cultures. I would love to visit Vietnam, India, a rainforest and various mountains.
Biggest fear: Jumping into deep water in the middle of the ocean or a lake.
Biggest ambition: To participate in a duathlon. Write a non-fiction children's book. To keep up with technology.
Interesting tidbits about me: Growing up, I spent summers with my grandparents on a small island (Long Island) off the coast of southern Maine. I went lobster fishing and clamming with my grandfather.
One cold winter, when I was in second grade, I wanted to find out what would happen if I put my tongue on a frosty metal fence. My teacher came out and with warm water she released me! Sometimes we just have to learn things for ourselves!
I saw Jean Piaget (a Swiss psychologist and philosopher) speak when I was seventeen and I have been writing about education ever since.
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