Cheryl A.

Graff
(847) 287-1959 cherylagraff@gmail.com cherylagraff.weebly.com

CERTIFICATIONS
Illinois Educator License Stipulations, LBS 1
Illinois Substitute Teaching License
Michigan Teaching License:
Special Education, Learning Disabilities K-12
Teaching Endorsement, Elementary Education K-5 All Subjects Self-Contained Classroom
Teaching Endorsement, Language Arts K-8
EDUCATION
Bachelor of Arts, Special Education-Learning Disabilities, K-12
Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI
Post-Baccalaureate Teaching Certification Internship Program/Masters Coursework
Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI
Masters: 24 credits toward a Masters in Special Education

Jul. 2016
Nov. 2015
May 2016
May 2016
May 2016
May 2016
May 2015

Aug.2015 - Apr.2016

TEACHING EXPERIENCE
General Education Pre-Service Teacher
Jan.2016 Apr.2016
Beulah Shoesmith Elementary School, Chicago Public Schools, Chicago, IL
Grade level: 3rd General Education Classroom
Mentor Teacher: Ms. Jeannette Bernard
! Delivered quality instruction to 30 students in a general education classroom
! Facilitated small group instruction during literacy and math centers
! Managed and input student grades in a grade book and electronically on IMPACT
! Assigned daily bell work and homework assignments in three core subjects
! Generated and executed common-core aligned lesson plans in Math, Language Arts, and Social Science
! Designed a reading/writing inquiry unit plan on The Great Migration to develop 21st century skills
! Facilitated daily text talk read-alouds to introduce weekly vocabulary words
! Implemented behavior management techniques of CHAMPS, PBIS, and a student incentive program
! Attended weekly grade level team meetings to discuss student data and grade level goals
! Incorporated Flash To Pass application during math centers to foster development of math fluency
! Reported and collected daily student attendance and lunch count
! Consulted with 3rd grade team teachers to plan units, lessons, field trips, and assessments
! Participated in planning and executing after school events including Career Day, College Week, and
Curriculum Night
! Planned and attended educational field trips to the Chicago History Museum and the Shedd Aquarium
Special Education Pre-Service Teacher
Sept.2015 Dec.2015
Beulah Shoesmith Elementary School, Chicago Public Schools, Chicago, IL
Grade levels: 5th-6th Special Education Classroom
Mentor Teacher: Mrs. Erika Goldsborough
! Provided quality instruction to students with emotional disturbances, mild-moderate cognitive disabilities,
and mild-moderate Learning Disabilities in a resource room and four general education classrooms
! Implemented instruction of four general education curriculums
! Calculated students minutes per week of direct special education services, paraprofessional support services,
and services in general education classrooms
! Developed and implemented schedules to service students in a resource room and general education classes
! Generated Math and Language Arts lessons for 5th/6th grade students with disabilities
! Modified lessons to meet student accommodations
! Collected and logged data on students IEP annual goals/benchmarks
! Co-taught lessons with 5th/6th grade Language Arts teachers using Engage New York Curriculum
! Administered and scored Language Arts and Mathematics REACH assessments, vocabulary/spelling tests
! Designed formative and summative assessments using game-based learning programs; Kahoot, Spelling
City, Read Theory, Flash To Pass, and Socrative

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Conducted educational assessments on a student using AIMSweb, Basic Reading Inventory, Woodcock
Johnson IV, and dynamic assessments
RELEVANT EXPERIENCE

Scholarship Recipient and Peer Mentor

Sept. 2014 May 2015
Katrina Tagget Fellowship
MSU Resource Center For Persons With Disabilities (RCPD), East Lansing, MI
! Awarded a $3,600 scholarship for fall 2014 semester
! Created a presentation titled The Technological World of Students with Disabilities in the Classroom to
promote disability awareness
! Advised and provided resources to students with learning disabilities biweekly through the STATE
program to promote academic excellence
! Served as Student at Large on the Presidents Advisory Committee on Disability Issues (PACDI) to
promote inclusion of individuals with disabilities in the MSU community
Resident Assistant
Aug. 2012 May 2014
MSU Department of Residence Education and Housing Services, East Lansing, MI
! Live-in student staff member in a residence hall and managed a co-ed and a female floor of 52-55
Freshmen
! Fostered an inclusive community by creating programs based on residents academic, health/wellness,
residential, and intercultural needs while maintaining a through knowledge of campus resources
! Responded to emergency crises and individual/community matters by mediating personal, academic, and
career conflicts
ACTIVITIES & AWARDS
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Sword of Honor, Sigma Alpha Iota International Womens Music Fraternity

Decker Muns / Friendship Memorial Scholarship
Katrina Tagget Fellowship
MSU Deans List: 6 semesters
Shoesmith Glee Club Founder and Artistic Director

May 2015
Apr.2015
Apr.2014
Dec.May; 2011-2014
Oct. Apr.; 2015-2016

ADDITIONAL SKILLS, CERTIFICATIONS, & TRAINING

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Classically trained Mezzo-Soprano opera singer for 14 years

Heartsaver First Aid, CPR, AED American Heart Association
Nov.2015 Nov.2017
Proficient in Microsoft Word, Excel, Google Docs, Google Drive, Read Theory,
Evernote, game-based learning, Smartboards, and Natural Reader
! Attended professional development on integrating technology into lesson plans, ThinkCerca, thinking maps,
and social-emotional learning
REFERENCES
Lana Brown
Chicago Teacher Internship Coordinator
Michigan State University
Cell: 815.325.6929
Email: Lanabrown@comcast.net
Erika Goldsborough
5th & 6th Grade Special Education Teacher
Beulah Shoesmith Elementary School
Cell: 312.399.0332
Email: elgoldsborough@cps.edu
Francine Williams
Michigan State University Field Instructor
Cell: 773.330.0523
Email: will2605@msu.edu

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