Experience Summary
I firmly believe that the most vital ingredient for student success is passion. I am aware that most students do not walk into a classroom with this; which is why it is my objective to spark an appetite for the written word by focusing on the practice of reading and writing for the real world. Students must realize the purpose and real-life application of content objectives to construct their own meaning and develop autonomy. Through my studies and student teaching experience, I feel this is best achieved through a combination of fervor for the material, conferencing, reader and writers’ workshop, inquiry-guided instruction, critical literacy skills and a collaborative environment.
As an instructor, it is my greatest goal to facilitate student learning in the most effective means possible. It is my opinion that a nurturing environment, apprenticeship and accessibility of content are the most operative tools to attaining this objective. For a student to succeed, he or she must feel safe and secure in their experimentation with new materials and perspectives. I wish to be a nurturing instructor because I understand the difficulties students face; adapting to students’ needs and learning styles is the best approach to supporting each pupil’s progress. I want to constantly challenge my students while maintaining an atmosphere of support and encouragement. By regarding effort in addition to skill-achievement, I believe students will garner trust and confidence in both themselves, and in me.
Teaching Style
In essence, education is a means of identifying with the world through a variety of lenses. Evidence of learning does not always come through a student’s ability to perform well on a test or paper. While basic understanding of content is imperative to the success of all students, I also believe that the true essence of the written word is self-expression. Whether that is personal expression, expressions of society and culture as a whole, or merely the expression of the petals on a flower—students should view literacy as a medium for transformation. With this comes the full understanding and appreciation of language arts in academia and in society.
My Hobbies
I'm a lover of fashion and creative arts--if I were not an English teacher I would pursue a career in merchandising or design. I prefer to be outdoors; hiking, swimming or just reading a book!