Learning more about Lucia....

Ciao! Now here's something new from Ann Cannizzaro.

Today I learned a bit more about my daughter Lucia.  We had an appointment with our not-so-local orthodontist in Ellsworth...about an hour and a half drive, if you are driving too fast most of the way!  Lucia has no 12 year molars on the bottom of her mouth.  Her top molars are in, yet they are a bit mis-shapen and they each have tiny cavities.  A Panorex x-ray showed that no wisdom teeth are in the picture, or rather, the mouth!  This visit was planned to get a second opinion about dental implants.

A few months ago, implants were recommended.  "Yikes!" was all I could utter then, with the dentist right there.  It seemed like such an extreme measure to take for my young daughter....and within the year no less.  Also, implants are quite an expense....each one requiring several steps and costing upwards of $3,000.00 for each tooth.  Really an impossibility....at this time.

I was reassured that implants are not necessarily needed in Lucia's case.  All of her other teeth are in good health and excellent condition.  Her back upper molars may eventually impinge on her lower gums, but at that time the teeth can be ground down a bit or even removed if necessary.  That also may not happen.  The orthodontist did say that Lucia needs to continue, ad infinitum, her excellent care of her teeth, which I'm sure she will. SHE is greatly relieved to know that implants do not necessarily play a part in her future....at least not NOW!


As for me, I will be making an appointment for Lucia to have those cavities filled, even though they are in those weird 12 year molars that may have to come out one day.  The teeth may last a lifetime and simply require normal maintenance and cleaning.  Implants not only require money, time, and effort to put into place.....it is said that they also require a lot of maintenance that can be rather costly, in order to keep them in good working condition over a lifetime.  So, 15 - 100 years.....that's 75 years worth of extra, costly care if Lucia lives a good, long life.

I think for now, our decision lies with that old belief that "less is more" and we will do our best to work well with the teeth we've got.  And we are glad that having no wisdom teeth fits right in there with the "less is more" maxim!

A Fresh Start....Musings from Downeast

Ciao! Now here's something new from Ann Cannizzaro.

Well, it's been quite some time since I've posted here.  I am hoping to record updates of my academic pursuits both personal and professional, for the record.  This summer I am practicing my Mandolin which I have owned for quite some time....at least two years....but have not learned to play.  I am making an effort this summer to learn at least ten easy songs.  My first accomplishment has been to play "Happy Birthday" to my brother Peter Cannizzaro.

I have also just received back my father's clarinet.  My father passed away five years ago.  He left me his beautiful wooden clarinet, and I have let it lie dormant for many years.  My daughter has recently taken up the clarinet and is playing a student model which was procured for me by my brother Vito Cannizzaro. The school music program has not provided much incentive for her to play and I am hoping to inspire her through participation.  I had the instrument entirely cleaned and refurbished by Ellis Music Company in Bethel, Vermont.  The clarinet is shining and bright with newly silvered keys, replaced pads and oiling.  I hope I will be able to bring it to life again and play music with my daughter Evyenia.

Aside from music, I attended a Summer Conference on Language Learning and the Common Core Standards.  This event was presented by WIDA, and hosted by Project Reach, at the University of Maine Orono campus.  On my first morning there, I was greeted by a former student, whom I taught in 1st grade (!).  She was working in the cafeteria for the summer session.  FUN!
I am our school's ESL Coordinator of Services.  I am on the lookout for students who need language support as they navigate their educational pathways in a mainstream classroom.  My students are those learning English, while they are also learning in the classroom.  I work with foreign born students, exchange students, and Native American students.
The conference helped many teachers from around the state to network and work with both the WIDA Language Standards and the Common Core Standards to think about meeting the needs of our respective students.  One very important key here is that every teacher is a language teacher, and many of the conference attendees went home with plans to share some pertinent language teaching points with their colleagues.  I hope we all do!!!!!

Coming soon:  Clam Aquariums in the classroom....another visit to the Downeast Institute in Jonesport, Maine.  My teaching partner and I are going to learn how to grow algae, which we will need to feed our clams this year.  Something new for us and for our students!