Constance DiCandia

National Board Certified Teacher 20 + years experinece in Public school system Presenter 2011 National Board for Professional Teaching Standards Conference July 27 -31, 2011 Washington DC MINT Mentor Attended Sally Ride Academy – Trainer for Sally Ride Academy summer Case study published: Methods for Effective Teaching (6thed.), Burden and Byrd, Pearson/Allyn & Bacon Instructor: Highly qualified Teacher tutorials Science 5-9 Teacher Exam Prepared training module for Highly Qualified Tutorials General Science 5-9 Exam Trainer: Classroom Instruction That Works Mid Atlantic Institute for research, Denver Colorado: Classroom Instruction That Works Instructor: Department of Mathematics, Science and Advanced Academics Attended Promise Science Institute Summer Experienced Science Coach at K-8 Level Trainer: UTD Educational Research and Dissemination trainer: Managing Anti- Social Behavior Attended: AFT Educational Research and Dissemination Summer Institute Professional Development Presenter for New Teacher Orientation MDCPS Clinic Supervisor for Student interns and field experience School SECME Coordinator Technology Trainer for teachers Contracted Author

Science is the study of the natural world. I believe that all children need the opportunity to explore and form their own answers to questions. Sometimes they may learn things that I had not intended for them to learn in my original plans, but that's how real life works and I want my students to be able to apply what they learn to many different situations. We never stop learning and I learn from children every day.

Teacher of the Year Region finalist 2011-2012 school year “Power of Technology” Technology integration Award- Achieve 3000 Certificate of Distinction in Recognition of Excellence in Service Helping Youth Reach Their Goals- Youth CO-OP, Inc Certificate of Award for Support in Student Services- Lakeview Elementary Certificate of Excellence for outstanding performance as a member of the Technology Mentor Team

Miami Dade College BA, Northern Illinois University MS Science Education, Florida State University

I first began working in South Florida's inner city schools over 20 years ago, first as a classroom teacher and now as a science coach both in an elementary and K-8 setting. Over the years, I have come to believe that learning should be fun and that children learn best when they are enjoying what they are doing. Children need the opportunity to explore and find their own answers to problems. For a while I was a contracted author for an educational publishing company but eventually decided that I did not want to sell off the rights to my works any longer. I am now finally free to sell the reading passages, lessons, and science labs that I write on my own. Inspiration is very important when you are writing and I have found my grandchildren along with my two dogs, Cloud and Venus, to be particularly inspirational. In fact Cloud, who has special talents, has even begun to write his own blog. More information about Cloud’s classroom blog will be forth coming.