Hello, I am Ms. Smitten and I am a special education teacher at Norterra Canyon school.I moved to Arizona from Canada with my family in 2015. I have been working in inclusive classroom settings since 2011. I have a Bachelors degree from Concordia University Edmonton, a Masters of Education Degree from City University of Seattle and a post baccalaureate in K-12 Special Education from Rio Salado. The focus of my Masters thesis was the use of professional learning communities as part of the inclusive classroom. I am excited to work with the other talented teachers and staff to be a part of the formative years of your child’s education. I am committed to developing young minds to their greatest potential, and look forward to working proactively and collaboratively with you and your child to identify opportunities for growth and create an enjoyable and memorable year.
I am a lover of all books and regularly use picture books at all levels. Picture books allow students access to rich language, a diversity of words and important grammatical constructions (Cameron-Fualkner, and Noble, 2013). The accessible format also aids in increasing vocabulary development and comprehension. (Foster, T 2007) I look forward to sharing some of my favorites with your student(s) this year.
My family is active, all their own way. My oldest daughter attends Emerson College in Boston where they have some incredible museums and book stores. My youngest daughter enjoys playing tennis and joining me at museums, art galleries and book stores. I greatly enjoy traveling, hiking, music, hockey, and cheering my daughters.
