JoAnn’s story
JOANN'S SCHOOL·
TUESDAY, MARCH 17, 2020·
Hello everyone! My name is Joann and I have a YouTube channel, "JoAnn's School".
I grew up in the Midwest, spending most of my life in the Chicago area. I've always loved dogs and have had many furry best friends throughout my life. (I lost my Barley in May of 2016 after he gave me 16 years of unconditional love...maybe you've seen the video I made on "Male dog diaper trick for old dogs" on YouTube?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d70f7fNcFg4) I miss him everyday. I lost my little sweetheart Bitsy to congestive heart failure on March 3, 2019.
I adopted Bitsy in 2013. My son and I found her as a stray, very sick, about to get hit by a car. I brought her to the local shelter, not knowing they were a “kill shelter”. Ten days later, no one claimed her, she was to be euthanized. Bitsy had lost a lot of hair from an advanced flea infestation, tested heart-worm positive, had intestinal worms, an infected liver and pancreatitis (from eating rotten food on the street), half her teeth broken, and had a black coat (black dogs don’t get adopted as often). She was doomed. I raised the money to adopt her. That was many years ago, and Bitsy became healthy and beautiful! She had a timid and sweet personality, and I’m so glad I could give her a loving home. I will always love and miss her.
Now I have a Shih Tzu mix named Lola. Lola is my sassy one. She barks at everything! But, that’s okay. She lets me know whenever a leaf falls from a tree, a squirrel is nearby, if a package arrived on my doorstep, or if someone is in my backyard (she scared away an intruder who was rummaging through my tool shed). Lola LOVES tennis balls and is willing to play fetch for hours. She likes to cuddle and insists on sleeping on my lap when I watch TV.
In April 2019, I adopted a bonded pair of older females. Betty is an American Eskimo mix and Bonnie in a Chihuahua/Terrier mix. They’re both around 7 years old. They cuddle each other all the time. It’s difficult for bonded pairs to find a forever home together. I’m glad I found them! Betty is calm and motherly, and she loves my huge box of squeaky toys. Bonnie is a rascal, yet so sweet.
I married, had 4 children (3 sons and 1 daughter), and lived in Chicago proper. I home schooled my children for grade school for a year. They returned to the school system when their paternal grandmother moved in to have hospice care (she passed away 7 months later). After my two youngest sons had a horrible first year of public high school, we realized homeschooling was the solution. One Algebra teacher told me that he "loved" my son attending his class, though he gave him an F, because my son sat in the back of the room and never bothered him. This teacher had almost 40 students in his classroom. At that time, Chicago Public High Schools had a drop out rate close to 40%. My youngest son, who had always been an "A" and "B" student, began to receive failing grades that first semester of high school. We pulled them out, then took their education into our own hands to home school them. They are all adults now, and I’m a grandmother. I’m very proud of my children’s accomplishments!
Over the decades, I have helped students receive awards for most improved, skip grades, avoid summer school, and pass their GED. I've watched them start their own businesses, enter and graduate college. Each of their accomplishments has warmed my heart.
In 2005, I had an accident and fractured my neck. Though I had surgery and a year to learn to use my arms again, I never recovered completely. This left me disabled and unable to work. I never regained full use of my arms. My only income was to be a small amount of Social Security Disability.
In the fall of 2015, I started making YouTube Math videos for my grandchildren.
My first videos aren’t as good as my recent ones. I’m learning how to make them better as time goes by.
I realized that I can STILL make a contribution to society, teach, and help students reach their goals. I can take my time making the videos. On bad pain days, I watch TV or rest. On good days, I make as many videos as I can. Then I post one each day. It feels wonderful to be useful and know that I’m helping people. Thank goodness for the YouTube platform! I plan to make as many useful videos as possible. Then, go back and remake the ones that need to be more clear and concise.
My Math videos range in levels from 1st grade to Algebra II and Geometry. I'm constantly making new videos and updating the old ones. My goal is to help anyone who has difficulty with Math (whether trying to stay ahead of the class, keep up with the class or pass the GED).
I believe we need to keep our sense of humor when confronted with difficulties. Most of my students have had a hard time with the vocabulary (terminology) used in mathematics. So, I created cartoon characters, such as the "Sad Variable", who reminds the coefficient that it's "just a number without him" (he's sad because he doesn't know his own identity). I have "2D Bob", who upon turning sideways becomes a thin line, and his cousin "3D Dave". There is the mother Bluebird feeding her babies in a parentheses nest to show the concept of the Distributive Property. I also have "Cross-eyed Irrational Pi" and his buddy "Square of 2".
My math videos are seen WORLDWIDE. Almost one-third of my viewers are from disadvantage areas where the possibility of going to school, attending a Math class or hiring a tutor is impossible (especially for females). Through the wonder of technology, a cell phone, a tablet, my lessons are available to them. This is an HONORABLE CAUSE.
Please, generously support my efforts!
Help support Joann's School on YouTube! Hit the Like button and share the videos!
Help support my dogs Lola, Betty, and Miss Bonnie Pickles.
Even a dollar or two will help!
Thank you for visiting this site!
We can do this together!
SUPPORT MY WORK:
PATREON
https://www.patreon.com/JoannsSchool
PAYPAL
paypal.me/JoAnnsSchool
MINDS
minds.com/joannsschool
If you can't afford to become a monthly patron, you can click or watch the ads to help me out.
FOLLOW ME:
TWITTER (you can Direct Message me)
https://twitter.com/JoannsSchool
FACEBOOK Message me!
https://www.facebook.com/JoAnnsSchool/