All About Me...    

My name is Tracey Capuano, and I am excited to be your child's FOURTH GRADE LANGUAGE ARTS teacher!  I enjoy students and truly love teaching!  This is my eighteenth year as a Codington educator -- and I have two daughters, Maiah and Angelia, who completed their elementary years here, so I have been a Codington parent, as well.  In addition to spending time with my family, I also enjoy reading, scrapbooking, American history, and my two cats!

My background includes a Master of Education degree in Curriculum and Instructional Supervision and a Bachelor of Science degree in Psychology, as well as certification as an elementary educator and instructional coach,, and special education certification in seven areas of practice.  I have about twenty-eight years of teaching experience, including positions within all levels of education -- preschool, elementary, middle, and high school -- and experience in teaching a wide range of learners, including general education students, as well as gifted students and students with disabilities.  I also previously served as our school's MTSS Coordinator, organizing the student support process and providing specialized instruction in reading, writing, math, and social-emotional skills for students.  I believe that this wide range of experience enables me to understand the many variables associated with a successful learning setting for my students, as well as their developmental levels and needs within the learning trajectory.

I approach literacy instruction with a focus on each individual component of reading for developing and proficient students, including phonics, fluency, vocabulary, and comprehension, as well as a focus on writing, including spelling, grammar, and composition.  I plan active lessons that integrate concepts and skills through engaging strategies and attention to student interests. Typical teaching strategies include slide show presentations of concepts, skill modeling and guided practice, read aloud and discussion, author studies, cooperative learning activities, readers’ theater, group games, and activities that integrate technology.  I use a variety of fiction and nonfiction books and passages, as well as poetry, articles, songs, and other reading material.  I also focus on utilizing interactive teaching strategies that require active student attention, back-and-forth teacher-student interaction, and engaging participation.

As an educator, I also believe it is important to focus on all aspects of child development in the classroom.  In addition to meeting your child's academic needs, I also focus on each child's social and emotional development and take specific steps to ensure that my classroom is a positive place where children learn within a supportive community of parents and students.  I value a learning climate where students support each others’ efforts, celebrate their strengths, and feel confident in who they are as individuals.  I seek to develop a strong rapport with your child and truly understand his/her unique attributes and abilities.  My major goal is to interest students in the learning process, while also promoting student responsibility.  I believe that children learn best when the content and class activities are active and of interest to them, and I believe that this enables students to become responsible for their effort in the learning process.  

We will have a great year!  You may contact me at tracey.capuano@nhcs.net or through the main office.