Each Friday, The Citizen features someone in education from the Finger Lakes community in The Banks: This week, we spotlight Colleen Locastro of Owasco Elementary School.
Q. What is most rewarding part of your job and why?
A. It is so rewarding to see how excited students get when they learn to read, write or even tie their shoes for the first time.
Q. What is the most challenging aspect and why?
A. The most challenging is meeting the needs of every student in my class. I need to adjust or vary each lesson so I reach every child's style of learning. Some children learn best by listening; others are better with a hands-on problem.
Q. What was your most embarrassing moment?
A. When I first started teaching I overslept one morning. Thank goodness my colleague took care of my class until I arrived.
Q. What is a student's key to success in your class?
A. #“Sit criss-cross, apple sauce, hands in lap and pay attention#” and #“have fun learning!#”
Q. What is the funniest question a student has ever asked you?
A. Kindergartners are so sincere, but sometimes ask the funniest questions. A couple of years ago, I introduced myself to the students and their parents. I said, #“I'm Mrs. Locastro, and I've been teaching kindergarten at Owasco for 19 years!” A little boy raised his hand and asked “And you're not dead yet?”
Q. If you hadn't selected teaching, what career would you have pursued?
A. My dream was to be a Rockette at Radio City Music Hall, but realistically, I always wanted to teach kindergarten. My grandmother, mother and all of my aunts were teachers. I guess it was destiny.
Q. Please fill in the blanks. When I was in school, I had the toughest time in my ____ class because _______.
A. Algebra, because the equations made no sense to me.
Q. Please fill in the blank. The best teacher I ever had was _______.
A. Hard to single out. All my teachers were wonderful, starting with Miss Taylor at Herman Avenue. I had fun teachers at East Middle, and I learned a lot from all my Auburn High School teachers.
Q. Why did you choose your subject area?
A. I enjoy young children. They are so happy to come to school and are eager to learn.
Q. What is one thing that people would be surprised to learn about you?
A. I stand on my head when my whole class returns their library books.
Colleen Locastro
Subject: Kindergarten
School: Owasco Elementary School Years teaching: 23, and have taught at Owasco for 21 years
A. It is so rewarding to see how excited students get when they learn to read, write or even tie their shoes for the first time.
Q. What is the most challenging aspect and why?
A. The most challenging is meeting the needs of every student in my class. I need to adjust or vary each lesson so I reach every child's style of learning. Some children learn best by listening; others are better with a hands-on problem.
Q. What was your most embarrassing moment?
A. When I first started teaching I overslept one morning. Thank goodness my colleague took care of my class until I arrived.
Q. What is a student's key to success in your class?
A. #“Sit criss-cross, apple sauce, hands in lap and pay attention#” and #“have fun learning!#”
Q. What is the funniest question a student has ever asked you?
A. Kindergartners are so sincere, but sometimes ask the funniest questions. A couple of years ago, I introduced myself to the students and their parents. I said, #“I'm Mrs. Locastro, and I've been teaching kindergarten at Owasco for 19 years!” A little boy raised his hand and asked “And you're not dead yet?”
Q. If you hadn't selected teaching, what career would you have pursued?
A. My dream was to be a Rockette at Radio City Music Hall, but realistically, I always wanted to teach kindergarten. My grandmother, mother and all of my aunts were teachers. I guess it was destiny.
Q. Please fill in the blanks. When I was in school, I had the toughest time in my ____ class because _______.
A. Algebra, because the equations made no sense to me.
Q. Please fill in the blank. The best teacher I ever had was _______.
A. Hard to single out. All my teachers were wonderful, starting with Miss Taylor at Herman Avenue. I had fun teachers at East Middle, and I learned a lot from all my Auburn High School teachers.
Q. Why did you choose your subject area?
A. I enjoy young children. They are so happy to come to school and are eager to learn.
Q. What is one thing that people would be surprised to learn about you?
A. I stand on my head when my whole class returns their library books.
Colleen Locastro
Subject: Kindergarten
School: Owasco Elementary School Years teaching: 23, and have taught at Owasco for 21 years
The Citizens' Say
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