My name is Jackie Tarnai and I am excited to be starting another year of Second Grade with you! This is my seventh year teaching Second Grade, but I have been a part of the Goldwood family for much longer. I have gone from doing my student teaching here many years ago to working in Bear's Den, being an Intervention Specialist, a First Grade, and finally, Second Grade teacher. I am pleased to have been working in Rocky River for so many years! I thoroughly enjoy being a part of the Goldwood team. This is where the students always come first, grow from experiences, and have meaningful lessons.
I am an Ohio certified teacher with an undergraduate degree as an Intervention Specialist with a Mild/Moderate concentration. In the spring of 2011, I completed my Masters in Early Childhood Education as well. Both of my degrees are from Kent State University.
I had the privilege to train in an early intervention reading program called Leveled Literacy Intervention (or LLI). I have also had the opportunity to work closely with professionals to enhance my education and experience, including legal council on IEP writing and implementation as well as working with behavior specialists. I am a member of the Westshore council of the International Reading Association, and I attend their conferences every Fall and Spring. I have also received beneficial training sessions on our school's adapted Everyday Math and Fundations programs. I have enjoyed taking Fingerspelling and Sign Language classes both for school and for fun. My students have enjoyed me teaching them some of the language, and I hope to do the same for my class again this year!
My husband Jono and I have three wonderful children. This past summer, my family did some camping and went to a lot of Indians games! We are HUGE Tribe fans. We now live in Westlake so we are really close to Goldwood. My children enjoyed playing in the sprinkler and riding their bikes around the block when the weather was nice! We love our new neighborhood as we have been here for a little over a year. We also watched our son, Joey play baseball and turn SEVEN! Where does the time go?!? This year, he will begin First Grade! Our daughter, Frances (Frankie) is FIVE (going on sixteen). She is a very funny and independent girl! She keeps all of us on our toes, but has us completely in love and inspired. Frankie will begin Kindergarten this year! Our youngest, Annaleigh (Annie) is 8 MONTHS! She is such a beautiful baby and has us all completely enamored by her giggles! Annie learned how to sign "more" and crawl this summer! All of our children were both born with permanent (and possibly progressive) mild-moderate hearing loss in both ears. They wear hearing aids to help them, but are doing great with speech development and other obstacles thus far. They are all very strong and beautiful little people.
Together we will make this a successful school year for YOUR precious children. I love teaching and am very excited to help your children grow and learn...and I can't wait to grow and learn from them as well. With you and your children, I will foster an enviornment of learning, creativity, acceptance, fun, and friendship!
Please contact me anytime with any questions, comments or concerns!
Jackie Tarnai
Please follow our class on Twitter: @mrs_tarnai