SHANNON TAGLIARINA

Ms. Shannon Tagliarina teaches first through fourth grade science at Birchwood School.  She grew up in Garfield Heights with caring, supportive parents and three younger brothers.  She graduated summa cum laude from John Carroll University with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Early Childhood Education.  She is currenlty pursuing a K-12 Gifted Certification along with a Master's Degree in Curriculum and Foundations at Cleveland State University. 

Known by the students as "Miss T.", Shannon's science classroom/lab is full of wonder and discovery.  Since the fall of 2009, Miss T assumed the responsibility of Birchwood’s K-4 science lab and science instruction at each grade level. Her room beams with enthusiasm. On any given day, you might find students peering into microscopes, outside gathering samples or perusing the plethora of books in the elementary science library (a cozy reading corner located right in the lab).  Her room is full of specimens, skeletons, living creatures and plenty of other materials displayed for active exploration.  Beginning in the first grade, students work and think like real scientists.  They learn how to question, hypothesize research, observe, measure, classify, and draw conclusions according to the scientific method.  Additionally, the third and fourth grade students learn important study skills to build a foundation for future learning.  In order to extend science beyond the classroom, students go on various field trips and participate in several competitions, including the Science Olympiad, the Earth Day Poster Contest, and the National Chemistry Week competitions.  What makes the 1-4 science experience at Birchwood most special, however, is the curiosity and enthusiasm Shannon instills in her students.  Through her passion for the subject and encouraging nature, her students learn to take risks and quickly grow to love science.