TEACHER'S CORNER: MARY ZIEGLER TEACHES SECOND GRADE AT ST. VINCENT DE PAUL

Perhaps Mary Ziegler's students are a little more willing to learn from her these days than when she "started" many years ago.

"I can remember as a little girl `making' my two younger brothers play school with me," she said, "and of course, I was always the teacher. As long as I can remember, I have wanted to be a teacher."

Ziegler teaches second grade at St. Vincent de Paul Grade School in Cape Girardeau. She is in her third year of teaching.

She is a 1990 graduate of the University of Missouri at Columbia.

Ziegler says that she would find it hard to work in a career that didn't provide feedback.

"I receive feedback continuously," she said. "I instantly know when I am successful and when I am not.

"On some days, if I can't find the energy to do something for myself, I do it for `my kids.'"

Ziegler says that her students are so eager to "do their job," and that makes her feel the same way.

"Our room is full of energy and the willingness to try anything new," she said.

"This makes my job not only a challenge, but a whole lot of fun."

The class spends a lot of time in activities which stem from literature and writing.

"Journal writing is a daily activity, as is story writing," she said.

"Each child has a writing folder in which they keep stories that they are working on. These stories are written from topics they choose.

"We go through the writing process with each child progressing at his or her own rate. I have conferences with each child at different points along the way.

"Students also have conferences with their peers. They become very independent writers as they brainstorm, draft and eventually celebrate their story by publishing it as a real book in our classroom library."

Ziegler and her husband, Rick, live in Jackson. Her hobbies include crafts, cooking, reading, water skiing and boating.