MARIA MATTHEWS

973-407-0776
mkm2214@tc.columbia.edu
Teaching portfolio: https://mariamatthewsteachingportfolio.weebly.com
EDUCATION
THE COLLEGE OF NEW JERSEY
Bachelor of Early Childhood Education and English May 2019
GPA: 3.7
TEACHERS COLLEGE, COLUMBIA UNIVERSITY
Master of Arts in Early Childhood Special Education Expected May 2021
GPA: 4.0
Kappa Delta Pi, International Honor Society in Education Feb. 2016
CERTIFICATIONS

Early Childhood Special Education Teaching Certification, New Jersey and New York State Expected May 2021

Early Childhood Education Teaching Certification, New Jersey and New York State May 2019

STUDENT TEACHING EXPERIENCE

First Grade ICT Dual Language classroom, P.S. 75 Emily Dickinson School, New York, NY Jan. 2021-present
• Observes and teaches lessons on Google Classroom, in which students engage in English and Spanish instruction
• Collaborates with special educator to teach Fundations, writing, and reading lessons based on Heinemann
curriculum and math lessons from Savvas Math Program
• Modifies, adapts, and differentiates instruction based on Individualized Education Plan goals and student needs
• Leads writer’s and reader’s workshop through multimodal learning strategies based on student interests

Early Head Start classroom, The Graham School, Harlem, New York, NY Jan.-March 2020
• Collaborated with cooperating teacher to provide developmentally appropriate care for infant growth and
development as recommended by NYSED when planning and executing learning experiences
• Analyzed focal child in language, social/emotional, motor, and cognitive developmental domains

Self-contained four-year-old classroom, P.S. M811 - The Mickey Mantle School, New York, NY Sept.-Dec. 2019
• Applied Individualized Education Plans and Behavioral Programs to classroom routine
• Taught small and whole-group lessons from NYC DOE Interdisciplinary Units of Study, including My Five Senses,
All About Us, and Where We Live
• Differentiated and scaffolded instruction to fulfill learning needs of emergent and academic-based learners
• Participated in weekly meetings with cooperating teacher to analyze student data, assess instruction, and plan
interactive literacy, math, and science lessons
• Implemented Picture Exchange Communication System (PECS) to communicate with students who are not yet
verbal and scaffolded PECS for students with emerging verbal language

Second grade classroom, Columbus Elementary School, Trenton, NJ Sept.-Dec. 2018

• Modeled creative writing and reading strategies during reader’s and writer’s workshop
• Taught 3 Eureka math modules and modified lessons to meet student needs in whole and small group instruction
• Executed hands-on social studies unit on Our Community
• Developed engaging science unit on the Water Cycle
• Conducted lessons from the Second Step Program to promote social-emotional learning and bullying prevention

First grade classroom, Hopewell Elementary School, Hopewell, NJ Feb.-May 2018

 • Taught language arts and math lessons correlated to the Common Core State Standards
• Developed interactive two-week unit on Care and Appreciation of the Earth
• Created pre, ongoing, and post assessments to differentiate unit lessons based on results

WORK EXPERIENCE

PRESCHOOL TEACHER’S ASSISTANT, The Learning Experience, Franklin Lakes, NJ Sept. 2020-present
• Collaborates with lead teacher to plan and teach lessons based on The Learning Experience curriculum
• Leads small group and individualized emergent reading and writing instruction from Fun With Phonics program
• Teaches hands-on STEM activities that promote critical thinking and problem solving
• Assists administrative assistant in planning 2021 summer camp curriculum, coordinating parent teaching
conferences, maintaining school records, and communicating with families

PRESCHOOL TEACHER’S ASSISTANT, Apple Montessori Schools, Mahwah, NJ June-Aug. 2020

• Designed literacy activities, science experiments, and play-based activities in the afterschool program

PARAPROFESSIONAL, Windsor Learning Center, Pompton Lakes, NJ July 2014-Jan. 2019

• Taught elementary students with disabilities (autism, emotional disturbance, and/ or behavioral disorders)
• Executed one-on-one lessons and creative and academic activities in small group instruction
• Developed skills to offer emotional support to students and deescalate challenging behaviors

LEADERSHIP and COMMUNITY SERVICE

TUTOR, The Columbia Volunteer Tutor Corps, via Zoom May-Aug. 2020
• Taught creative activities and academic lessons twice a week centered around a kindergartener’s interests
 Science experiments, phonics, read-aloud comprehension, math problems, and art projects

CO-CHAIRPERSON, Kinnelon Parents of Exceptional Children (KPEC), Kinnelon, NJ June 2017-Jan. 2020
• First organization to promote inclusion within the Kinnelon community
• Planned activities for diverse learners (5-13 years old) with recreational department staff
 Field days, holiday parties, movie nights, a spa day, etc.
• Observed seminars held by KPEC professionals to support families with children with atypical development

CHILDCARE ASSISTANT, Atkinson Child Development Center of Homefront, Ewing, NJ Jan. 2018-May 2019
• Organization largely ran by volunteers to provide families with free childcare, striving to break the cycle of poverty
• Cared for infants by assisting in naptime, feeding, diapering, and playtime routines
• Assisted head teacher in providing resources to families to promote positive and safe home environments

HOST, Family Math Workshop Night, Columbus Elementary School, Trenton, NJ Dec. 2018
• Independently presented a math workshop to families of the second-grade class

TUTOR, Homework Club of Parkway Elementary School, Ewing, NJ Oct. 2017-Apr. 2018
• Guided students with homework assignments and created study guides for assessments

PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT

Child Abuse Identification and Reporting Aug. 2020

• Informed on the identification and reporting of suspected emotional, sexual, and physical child abuse

Dignity for All Students Act Jan. 2019

• Strengthened knowledge on building relationships with students and fostering a positive classroom environment

School Violence Prevention and Intervention Jan. 2019

• Learned strategies on identifying and preventing school violence, including bullying and discrimination

SKILLS
• Multimodal lesson plan creation, communication with students and families, time management