The English Classroom
About
My favorite part of teaching anyone, no matter the age or grade, is that I get to provide maybe an essential piece of learning that may have been missing from the student's educational development or an opportunity to lend a hand when a student needs it most. Knowing that I have done that for someone else is why I teach. Teaching is sharing, being part of another's person's aspirations and goals and helping that student get there through trust and inspiration from me.
I have been working one-on-one with students for last 11 years. My task as part of a team of educators was to get as many seniors graduated on time in their public and charter systems by recovering failed and D graded English courses. Some of my students had 8 English courses to recover in a year's time. Many were ESE and ESL who excelled in the maths or science areas, but language courses were a barrier. In order to recover so many courses, I had to earn the trust of each student and once earned, I used methods based on Marazano's ideas of setting goals with the student, checking always with the student on his or her progress, and expressing constant postitive feedback. The more engagement by a student, the more the student takes ownership of learning. Recovery of grades to graduate is an important goal, but helping a student become his or her own teacher, is the ultimate goal- one that I worked towards with each student. For I knew that if a student could take this one thing away, he/she would have something for all the learning in the future.
I am a current Florida certified teacher in English, Reading, Journalism and ESL. In my last teacher evaluation in Pinellas County Schools, I earned Highly Qualified status.
Highlights
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Frequently asked questions
What is your typical process for working with a new student?
I begin by getting to know a student and letting the student learn something about me. I go next to what reason the student contacted me for help. With exchange of ideas. I ask a student to write down long range goal(s) and weekly goals as completing a rough draft of an argumentative paper step-by-step. Most importantly, I ask the student to write one learning difficulty he/she encounters with a teacher and I respond with how I will help with that problem. For example, students often say that teachers don't listen to students. I write that down on the Goal sheet as my goal. At the end of each week, we both talk about what was accomplished or not. The student evaluates himself/herself and also me and I do the same. From that, we can plan for the next week.
What education and/or training do you have that relates to your work?
I passed the National Teachers Exam, certified in South Carolina, Washington State, Georgia as well as Florida. I attended graduate school and completed a MA in Education at the University of South Carolina.