my purpose for joining this group is to help some of you mothers with your teaching when you are uncertain .  I was a teacher for 34 years---second and third grade.  I retired in 2001, but I love teaching so much I can't stop.  Although I have now become an artist, I still want to teach.  I am offering my expertise to anyone who feels I might be able to help you.  I was sometimes called "the teacher's teacher" , so pick my brain.  I may have some good ideas for you.       I should tell you something about my family.  I have a wonderful husband, a grown son who was born without hands and only one foot which was amputated when he was about 4 1/2, a daughter whom we adopted at age 5 after she had been in six homes, four wonderful, intelligent grandchildren who live close enough by that we see them every couple of weeks, and a Somali Red cat.   My son is now 40 and lives in  Chicago.  My daughter is 35.  My grandchildren are all in their teens---Jessica is 17, Christopher is 16, Jodeci is 14, and Jollisa is 13.  They live in Peoria.              I do some volunteer work, teaching art, and I also tutor children in my home from time to time.  Right now I have one adorable second grade student who has difficulty with reading and language arts in general.  I work with him two hours a week and am working as hard on his self-confidence as I am on the subject matter.  Study skills are really important , too.           This summer I am going to offer my services to my community to teach art to children ages 6 to 12.  I am not sure how I will go about it, but I know I will figure out something.