Sunshine and Lollipops

Dazzling lessons, sweet resources, and sparkly teaching ideas for your primary classroom!" I help passionate teachers make their life less stressful by creating sweet resources that build a strong classroom community which fosters sparkling relationships with parents...Welcome! I am so happy that you found Sunshine and Lollipops a place where YOU (new primary teachers, student teachers as well as parents and seasoned teachers) will not only find dazzling, creative, differentiated resources and ideas to sweeten and challenge young minds, but also a place to find ways to add a little sparkle to your teaching style so you can continue to SHINE! These sensational ideas and lessons will motivate your students and transcend them into the brilliant land of learning where they will discover ways to become life long learners in a melodious classroom environment that fosters and values teaching and learning. A place where each child is treasured for his uniqueness and will become an active member of your classroom. I learned a LOOOOOng time ago that a little sweetness goes a long way so I have tried to look at the positive side of life as a retired teacher of 30+ years, a wife, mom and Mimi of three. Who doesn’t want to visit their Mimi and experience a reality “Candyland” game with all kinds of forbidden pleasures like lollipops, Hershey hugs and kisses, cupcakes, brownies and all those sugary treats, They can visit and experience the sweetness of Mimi’s and then go back home on a sugary high! My teaching style was and still is to keep all lessons dazzling, fun, hands on and whatever each child needs to learn and grow! I LOVE to differentiate instruction as much as I can! Let’s face it, each year you get a classroom full of kiddos as different as a box of chocolates...Each piece might look pretty much the same on the outside, but when you take a bite, you can see and taste the difference...all sugary and sweet, but different in many ways! I taught fist and second grade full time for 25 years. I looped with my first and second graders for 13 years of my 25 year teaching career! I am now supporting Special Education in a K-1 classroom. In addition to teaching full time, I substitute taught K-4 for 9 years while raising my children. I also have gone into primary classrooms to assist with set up and classroom management ideas as well as supporting ideas for time management!

My teaching style was and still is to keep all lessons dazzling, fun, hands on and whatever each child needs to learn and grow! I LOVE to differentiate instruction as much as I can! Let’s face it, each year you get a classroom full of kiddos as different as a box of chocolates...Each piece might look pretty much the same on the outside, but when you take a bite, you can see and taste the difference...all sugary and sweet, but different in many ways!

Observations from my 2nd grade classroom are featured in a book entitled: Informational Text in K-3 Classrooms: Helping Children Read and Write by Sharon Kletzien and Mariam Dreher published by Scholastic.

Attended West Chester University (BS in Elementary Education with a minor in Spanish) Graduate courses from St. Joseph's University, Penn State and University of Pennsylvania.

I have conducted workshops within my school district for Literacy Stations and mentored many new teachers. I have also presented workshops for teachers and administrators on the Everyday Math Program. I have written curriculum and redesigned our first grade curriculum to align with the Common Core Curriculum. I have created lessons to match the Common Core standards. I was Team Leader for First and Second Grade. I have also written grants to develop our Homework Club to support those children who do not have help at home or who are ELL students. I have also presented Behavior Management Techniques and Strategy seminars for future teachers.