Hello parents!

     I am Melissa McCaffrey and am extremely fortunate to have had the opportunity to follow my lifelong dream of becoming a teacher. My passion for education has always been strong. As a young child, I felt the magic in every classroom I attended. I was 8 years old when I told my mother I wanted to be a teacher, and in 2003 my journey as an educator began.

    For the past 15 years, I have learned so much about educating 10 through 13-year-olds. I have gained a deep understanding of both their academic and social-emotional needs. When people ask what grade I teach, which has always been the middle school level, they often give me a sympathetic look and say “Wow! That is a tough age to teach!”  However, I disagree with that.

    I find this age group extremely enjoyable and rewarding. Over the years, I have built strong bonds with my students. I believe in them. While I do keep my expectations very high, I am also very empathetic and understanding. I motivate children by building strong relationships, emphasizing hard work and celebrating success. My students believe they can succeed and they trust that my intentions are what is best for them.

    I am so excited to be able to support your children in a small group model. The literature we read will be rich and I will support them in their writing. Goal setting and improvement in executive functioning skills will also be practiced as well.  I plan on using Google Classroom and interactive journals with the groups. This will be an efficient and organized way to monitor progress and allow parents to see what their children are working on.

Thank you for the opportunity to work with your child.  I look forward to engaging each one I work with using powerful pieces of literature from various genres and strengthening their writing skills.