Janice Perino

The first time I ever stepped foot into a classroom, over twenty years ago, I had the look of what I thought was a totally professional teacher. I wore a black skirt at mid-calf, a blue blouse with a scarf tied under the collar, run-less nylon stockings, and low-heeled black shoes, freshly polished. I convinced myself that my face conveyed the message, “I’m in charge, and I know that I’m doing.” 

My outward appearance may have fooled my English classes, but on the inside I was a mass of nerves which produced, among other things, an acidic stomach that had repelled my breakfast earlier that morning, a mouth that was as dry as the Sahara Desert, involuntary throat constrictions, nearly frostbitten hands and feet, and an irritable bowel. The message I conveyed to myself was, “Please God, help me, and don’t let me screw up anybody’s life.” 

This was not a student teaching position, or a temporary substituting job. These were my classes, my students. I was expected to nurture, encourage, inform, enlighten, guide, correct, and instruct students “how” to write for college.
The fear of failure sent me into self-examination. Early into my teaching experience, I discovered I was telling students how to write, yet I was failing to show them how to write. I sincerely hope you will benefit from my own trial and error experiences that eventually led me to develop a technique for writers. I fully understand that there are other successful writing techniques. I am merely presenting one that works well in my classroom. 

College: 

• Fresno State University, B.A. Degree
• Major: Communications Minor: English
• Secondary Teaching Credential, Single Subject – English, National University

Teaching Experience:

• Central Catholic High School 
  • Speech (classroom only) 
  • Drama (classroom & play production) 
• Modesto Christian High School 
  • Drama (classroom & play production) 
  • Speech (classroom only) 
  • English 10 & English 12 AP & CP 
• Hughson High School 
  • English 12 AP & CP 
  • Journalism 
• Non-teaching experience: copywriter & editor for a regional association.