Experience Summary
Both my BA and my MA are in English, and I have extensive experience working in my field. After college, I taught high school English for 6 years. Currently, I work as an adjunct instructor at Pellissippi State Community College and ITT-Tech. Since 2007, I have also worked at the Thornton Center at the University of Tennessee, where I tutor student athletes; I help them with a variety of tasks in the writing process, including brainstorming, outlining, drafting, revising, and research.
Teaching Style
My teaching style is very relaxed, though I also encourage students to stay focused and on-task. I believe in creating a positive atmosphere where students feel comfortable asking questions and engaging in discussions. When I teach or tutor in writing, I make it my goal to give students a solid structure for composing assignments that they can use to write any paper. When I teach reading, I make it my goal to find something in the text to engage the students, since if they are not interested, they will not read or comprehend. One of my favorite moments in working with students is when I can look at something they have written and see the improvement and know that they have learned an important skill.