TEACHER'S CORNER: YOUNGSTERS HELP TEACHER FEEL A CHILD AT HEART

Cheryl Viessman feels like a child at heart, and teaching young children helps her stay that way.

Viessman is the kindergarten and first-grade transition teacher at May Greene Elementary School.

"I grew up very familiar with the profession," she said. "My mother and grandmother are both teachers. I can't remember wanting to be anything else."

Originally from Vienna, Viessman taught kindergarten for six years at Steeleville before coming to May Greene this year. She has a bachelor's degree in early childhood education from Central Missouri State University at Warrensburg.

"I enjoy the eagerness the children show for life and learning," she said.

"I enjoy being able to make a difference in the students' lives and seeing the progress they make during the time they are with me."

In her classroom, her goal is to have the children believe in themselves.

"I want each child to believe that they can read. I begin by bringing in things from their environment, which they read without realizing they are reading.

"I use logos from local food chains and department stores, candy wrappers, soda cans, traffic signs, canned goods, etc.

"When they are able to tell which is Pepsi and which is Coke, this is because they are reading. They can't wait to get home the first day of school because they want to tell everyone, "I can READ!"

Viessman's entire curriculum is designed to give every child a way to be successful.

"This builds their self-esteem," she said. "All year long, as they have continued to be successful, their confidence grows and so do their abilities.

"We do very little paper and pencil work. Young children need a hands-on approach to learning, so we use a variety of manipulatives for math and reading."

The rewards of teaching are many.

"One is when a child picks up a book and, as if by magic, the print suddenly makes sense," she said. Their eyes grow big and bright and they say with a sense of awe, `Mrs. Viessman, I can read!'

"Then they say it again, only this time their arms are wrapped around me in a big hug, and they are so excited that they just hop up and down."

Viessman is married to Rodney Viessman.

In her spare time, she enjoys volleyball, softball, traveling and collecting children's literature.