"The fact that I can plant a seed and it becomes a flower, share a bit of knowledge and it becomes another's, smile at someone and receive a smile in return, are to me continual spiritual exercises." ~Leo F. Buscaglia
My name is Ms. Tocci and this is my 20th year teaching at Holy Angels. I have a Bachelor's degree in Elementary Education from Saint Joseph's College and a Master's Degree in Education from Stony Brook University. I have experience in teaching third, fourth, fifth, sixth, seven and eighth grade. I am thrilled to be teaching fourth and fifth grade math and science this year!
When not at school I love to spend time with my family, go out to dinner, travel and read. My son is a graduate of Holy Angels. We both are truly blessed to be part of the Holy Angels family.
My mission is that each student has a successful year, while progressing across every subject. I want each student to remember the laughter and enthusiasm for learning I instill in them every single day, while creating memories they will treasure for years to come. The poet E.E. Cummings stated, "The most wasted of days is one without laughter."
I try to use as much authentic experiences as possible so students can connect the information to a real world setting. I strongly believe in Howard Gardner's theory of multiple intelligences. With each lesson I teach or unit I plan, I try to incorporate as many of the intelligences and diverse learning styles as possible. It is essential to tap into each child's strength by presenting information in diverse ways. In addition, I frequently incorporate technology into my lessons.
Beyond test scores and the pressures of mastering each state standard before the end of the school year, the success of the student is measured in different ways. It is measured by the smiles on their faces when I open the door and greet them in the morning, the tears of the students on the last day of school, the emotional support the students provide each other at school, the pride on their faces when they finish a presentation to their peers, and the love of learning that develops. My ultimate goal is that I hand them a desire for higher learning and in the years to come they hand me back a copy of their college diploma~while we laugh together about the good times at school!