DANA R. TAURISANO

SUNY Empire State College

Pre M.A.T. Background

Hello, my name is Dana Taurisano. I graduated from Utica College in 2009 with a B.S. in Chemistry and a minor in Government. Prior to attending Utica College I was enrolled at Mohawk Valley Community College (MVCC) for 2.5 years. At MVCC I studied Biology, Public Policy, and Chemistry. After graduating form UC, I began substitute teaching and it made me realize I had a vocation to help students succeed academically.

Peer Tutor Experience

While enrolled as an undergraduate at both MVCC and Utica College. I worked as a tutor to my peers for several subjects.

M.A.T. Student

Once I decided I wanted to teach I began looking into colleges that offered Transitional B certification. I found SUNY ESC to be the most cost effective and convenient way to earn my degree. After beginning my first classes at SUNY ESC I began working as a Teacher’s Assistant.

Teacher’s Assistant Experience

The 2010-2011 school year was the first year I worked as a TA in the Utica City School District. I worked as Donovan Middle School. I was a Special Education TA because I worked with a specific group of students according to their IEP specifications.

As a special education TA, I had to assist my students in every subject.

Math TA Experience

It is now the start of the 2011-2012 school year and I am a Math TA at JFK middle school which is also part of the Utica City School District. I specifically help students who are struggling with mathematics.

My Future Classroom

I will learn about real life applications of chemistry in my classroom.

I will incorporate culture in to my lessons.I will be focused on mastery style learning

as opposed to competitive learning.Students will work with all other students in

the class by the end of the year.My classroom will be well organized.There will be NO REQUIRED HW!

I want my Students to…

Be engaged! Be excited about learning! Enjoy coming to my class!! Be technologically literate! Be scientifically literate! Express themselves freely without fear of

judgment! Be safe and responsible learners! Take their learning into their own hands!

In addition to being a M.A.T.student/TA/tutor I like to…

Spend time with my fiancé!

Pray

Golf/mini golf

MTB

Go for motorcycle rides(That’s me, but not my bike…it is my fiancé's)