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Hi Everyone!

My name is Melissa Lijo. I am in the Childhood Special Education Dual Cert Grades 1-6: Students with learning disabilities. I’m currently an assistant teacher and Head JV soccer coach at Marymount school of NY. I worked in Pre-K classroom for the past two years and this year I am teaching kindergarten. I am excited for learning lab and am looking forward to improve as an educator and gain confidence in performing assessments.

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Hi! My name is Sydney. This is my second year in the LD program at Hunter. I graduated from the University of Wisconsin-Madison in 2017 with a degree in psychology and soon after working in marketing for a few years decided to pursue a career in teaching. I currently work at the Windward School in the city working with students with language based learning disabilities. I look forward to tutoring a student this semester and getting to know all of you!

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Here is a link to my introduction video! I used screencast-o-matic which is easy and free in case you want to check it out. Please include a picture or video along with your introduction too! My name is Jennifer Klein and I've been teaching at Hunter since the girls in this video were 2 years old. Before working at Hunter I taught 2nd grade inclusion, Creative Writing, and was a Reading Specialist for Grades K-12. I grew up in Baltimore  and live in Maplewood, NJ with my kids, husband Charles, and my two dogs Macy and Jethro.  Look forward to working with everyone this year!

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This is what a look like- a white 28 year old guy with a beard and glasses!

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Hey y’all! Jacob Ready here. I’m a second year MSED student with a background in theater teaching artistry and performances for youth & neurodiverse audiences. Thrilled to be joining this course and excited to meet y’all soon! I’m excited about teaching reading because books are my favorite thing in the world. Currently on a quest to visit every bookstore in NYC and blogging about it here: https://nycbookquest.substack.com/

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Jacob thanks so much for being the first to post your intro! I love bookstores and I am SO EXCITED to follow your blog! -JK 

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Jacob thanks so much for being the first to post your intro! I love bookstores and I am SO EXCITED to follow your blog! -JK 

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Hi everyone! My name is Ally Kaplan and I am so excited to be working with you all this semester! This is my second year in the Elementary General and Special Ed Dual Cert Program. I completed my undergrad in 2020 at the University of Wisconsin-Madison (Go Badgers!!) in Human Development and Family Studies with a certificate in Education and Educational Services. I began my teaching career last year as a para in a fourth grade classroom on Long Island. This year, I am working as an 2nd Grade Associate Teacher at Ethical Culture Fieldston in Manhattan. I am looking forward to forming a relationship with my student here in Learning Lab, as well as with all of you, and I am so grateful for the opportunity to learn alongside such an amazing group of people!

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It is so nice to hear that you still have a relationship with your Learning Lab tutee. I think that really goes to show how special this program is, and I hope to be able to keep in touch with my student and learn about his/her growth for years to come! -Ally Kaplan

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Hey Everyone! My name is Emina and I am now starting my second year in the learning disability program at Hunter! Its been INCREDIBLE. I graduated Hunter College in 2019 with a major in Political Science wanting to go to law school. During COVID I was prepping for the LSAT's when I realized I wanted to do something more fulfilling and enrolled back at Hunter.  I look forward to working with a student this semester since it will be my very first time working one-on-one with a student as I am not in a classroom yet. Looking forward to learning with you all!

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This is me at the one event I've been to since March of 2020, so it is the only picture I have for this padlet 🙃

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Hi Everyone! My name is Danielle and I am so excited to be in the Learning Lab this semester! This is my third year in the LD program at Hunter. I am about to start my 4th year working at a school for kids with language based learning disabilities where I teach middle schoolers (despite what everyone says, they're the BEST). I grew up in Boston, but moved to Manhattan to go to Barnard College and haven't left since!
When I'm not teaching, thinking about teaching, or doing grad school work, I like to read, walk along the river in Riverside Park, and plan awesome picnics!

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Hi, I'm Amy. I'm in the dual-cert program here at Hunter. I did my undergrad at Indiana University in Bloomington and I majored in English, but ended up working as a graphic designer for several years, which I loved. I work at an elementary school in Bedford, NY as a teacher's aide and I am very excited to go through the learning lab and get to know everyone!

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Hi Ally! You come to Learning Lab with such an important lens related to the positive impact of family from your undergrad studies. Really excited to learn from you this semester. Also can't wait to hear what its like working at an Ethical Culture School. This sounds like a  dream teaching space! See you Thursday. -JK 

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Hi Ally! You come to Learning Lab with such an important lens related to the positive impact of family from your undergrad studies. Really excited to learn from you this semester. Also can't wait to hear what its like working at an Ethical Culture School. This sounds like a  dream teaching space! See you Thursday. -JK 

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Danielle, first I love this dress! Next, I love that you love middle schoolers. I have mixed feelings based on the ebb and flow of their moods. Any strategies for getting them off TikTok?! I went to Columbia, too and some of my happiest times were spent in the library there. Take care, JK 

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Danielle, first I love this dress! Next, I love that you love middle schoolers. I have mixed feelings based on the ebb and flow of their moods. Any strategies for getting them off TikTok?! I went to Columbia, too and some of my happiest times were spent in the library there. Take care, JK 

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Isn't in interesting how covid made us stop and pause to reflect about what we wanted to do with our lives? This was a definite positive that came out of so much tragedy. I wonder if one day you might combine your legal interests with your education degree to do some legal advocacy? Something to consider. Advocates For Children is a great organization to check out if its something you are considering down the line. -JK

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Your experience working at Winward is going to be such an asset to our group. I definitely plan on picking your brain about how Winward is handling literacy instruction these days. Is it still Orton Gillingham aligned? Excited to chat more!
Best,
JK

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Please follow the link to my introduction video! I recorded on my phone and then uploaded the clip to Google Drive so that I could directly share it here. You can do the same for your own introduction, you can use screencast-o-matic as Jennifer did, or you can try out any other platform that you'd like to introduce to the group!

Now for a brief bio - my name is Emma Fraser. I graduated from the Hunter College School of Education in 2016, and I have been working as a member of the Learning Lab community ever since! This will also be my eighth year working as a special educator with grades K-2 within the New York City Department of Education. I am so excited to get to know you all and to teach and learn alongside you!

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Hi everyone! My name is Rachel and I'm from Queens. I am in my second year of the dual-cert Childhood Special Education program. I graduated from Binghamton University in 2020 with a Master's in Human Development. I started substitute teaching last spring and am looking forward to subbing this school year as well. I'm excited to start tutoring this semester and learn from all of you!

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So happy to see you again. Your English background and artistic/graphic skills will be such an asset to you when planning for UDL friendly instruction. See you Thursday! -JK

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What a year to begin substitute teaching! I feel like if you can manage substitute teaching in 2020-2021 you are equipped to handle almost anything. Excited to get to know you better. -JK

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Hi all! My name is Ambar, your fellow classmate and second year grad student. I have a background in theater education and currently work as a paraprofessional at PS 321 in Park Slope, Brooklyn. A major part of my job relies on supporting and collaborating with teachers, while getting to know my students and finding meaningful ways to support them academically, socially, and emotionally. Learning Lab seems to be the perfect place to develop skills in specializing instruction with care and intention. I was so happy to see so many familiar faces on zoom on Thursday. Crazy to think that I've been staring at some of your faces on zoom for a full year, but have yet to meet in person. Looking forward to learning from all of you!

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So nice to see your kids and pups! Looking forward to being in another one of your courses. - Ambar

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Feeling lucky to learn from you, a former Hunter grad! -Ambar

P.s. In reference to your comment in class on Carroll Gardens and its amazing food, I snagged a Lucali pizza last week and it was phenomenal!

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Jacob, I'm excited to be in class with you again and will definitely be referencing your blog for book/bookstore recs (officially subscribed woo!).
-Ambar

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Great to be in class with you again. Good luck at the new school! -Ambar

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Hi! My name is Ida, like hurricane Ida. Unlike hurricanes, I look to impact people's lives in a positive light, not negative. This is my final semester at Hunter. Woo hoo! I have never taught in a classroom, but that is soon about to change as I will be student teaching this semester. To say I am not nervous will be deceitful, but I am beyond excited at the same time. I look forward to gaining hands-on experiences in the classroom to work toward my vision of becoming one of the best teachers of all time.

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Hi Everyone! My name is Jess and I am in the Advanced Preparation Program for Learning Disabilites. I graduated from undergrad in 2020 from Marist College with a degree in Educational Psychology and Special Education. Last semester, I completed the first half of learning lab in the spring, so I am very eager to continue working with the same student.  I am currently a special education teacher in Manhattan at Reece School. This is my first year being a head teacher and I can't wait! Looking forward to learning from all of you!

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Excited to be in class with you again Ambar!!- Jacob

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Best of luck on your head teacher role! -Jacob

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Hi everyone!! My name is Michaela and I'm in my second year of the childhood education learning disabilities program here at Hunter as I continue to work towards my dual certification. I'm really looking forward to working with you all and working with real life students!! This is something I have not done yet due to covid and my unfortunate but necessary absence from any classrooms for over a year.

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Hi! My name is Morgan and this is going to be my 3rd year at Hunter (I'm on the part time track). I graduated from Quinnipiac University in Hamden, Ct in 2019. I am also starting my 3rd year of teaching nursery/pre-k this year. I'm looking forward to a great semester with you all!

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Congrats on the head teaching position.  You're going to do great!- Melissa Lijo

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Congrats on the head teaching position.  You're going to do great!- Melissa Lijo

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Hi everyone! my name is Joyce and i am currently in my second year, working to receive my masters in Special Education- Learning Disabilities. I worked at The Windward School for two years which focused on teaching students with language based learning disabilities. I just started a new part time job at The JCP school downtown. I am really looking forward to working with everyone and learning something new!

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Congrats on your last semester! You're almost there. Finish strong! -Melissa Lijo

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Great to be in another class with you. The pup in your picture is adorable!
-Ambar

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Hello Sydney, it's a pleasure to be in another class with you this  semester. You're my degree twin "from psychology to special ed" Covid has definitely taken a-lot from us including human connections, however there are definitely some names, video personalities, and faces that has left an imprint in my head and you are one. Hopefully we can kick Covid's butt and we can return to normal before our graduate journey ends.
All the best Nadia

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Hello Ambar, nice to see you again.
All the best...Nadia

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Hello Morgan, we are in yet another class together. All the best for the new semester.
Nadia

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Hey Melissa,
You are awesome- teaching, coaching while in school that is incredible! It is great to be in yet another class together, wishing you a wonderful school year and season!

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Thank you, Ambar!! Her name is Riley and she is my cousin's pup!

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Yay, Ida!! I love your enthusiasm and ambition in pursuing the teaching path! BIG congratulations on your last semester before going out into the world to positively impact students' lives.
-Michaela

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Hello everyone! My name is Nadia and this is the second year on my journey towards earning my dual Master’s degree in special education and general education. I am a paraprofessional with the department of education. I started my journey to become a career changer back in 2015 when I went back to school on pursuit of a childhood dream that was strongly promoted by my parents, and become a teacher. I worked as a nanny for twelve plus years before I decided that I wanted a career I could be more passionate about. I graduated from Touro college in 2019 and had my last baby two months later, took one year off to be with her before stating my masters. I hope to be fully certified by the end of 2022. I’ve had the pleasure of attending one in-person class last week and it felt so surreal. I look forward to more in-person experiences before I complete the program and I really look forward to meeting as much of you as possible.

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Hi everyone!
My name is Astrid. I did my undergrad in Childhood education at Hunter. Now, I am working on getting a degree in Special Education (Learning Disabilities). Last year, I worked as an assistant teacher in a 4th grade gen ed classroom. This year, I will be working in a 2nd grade special ed classroom. I am really excited for the new school year and to be working with all of you!

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Hi, my name is Jessica! I completed my undergrad studies in childhood education at The Ohio State University. I am now completing the Childhood Special Education (LD) track. The past year I was subbing and was a leave replacement in 1st grade. This year, I will be teaching 1st grade in Long Island City at a beautiful school. I am so excited for the upcoming year and to work with everyone in our class!

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Hi everyone!
My name is Naomi and I am in the dual-cert program (learning disabilities). After completing my undergraduate program at URI in nutrition, I realized that the clinical setting was not for me. I moved back into the city I have been working in schools for the past 5 years working in elementary schools as an associate teacher. I am very excited to begin tutoring this semester and getting to know everyone.