Students Make The Profession of Teaching Worth It All!
I firmly believe above all that the students are the most important cog in the machine of education. Without them, we have no future engineers, poets, scientists, or even teachers. I have taught and interacted with students on many different levels, from a ninth grade classroom in my pre-internship, to teaching a college level freshman writing course. I genuinely enjoy meeting new faces and getting to know students individually, and I enjoy being a part of their lives, even if sometimes it is the smallest of influences.
No matter the grade level or school, I firmly believe the following in my classroom:
No matter the grade level or school, I firmly believe the following in my classroom:
- Keep the class engaging - sometimes there is business to be done, and sometimes it's nice to just relax and have fun. Whatever the case, I try to keep kids engaged and not feel like they will have the same thing day in and day out. In my mind, knowing your coming to class with something new to tackle is more rewarding for a student then knowing exactly what is going to happen every day.
- Respect for everyone - I believe above all, we should all have respect for one another. With English, there are many opinions on the literature we read and the ideas everyone has about each piece. Everyone's thoughts and opinions will be respected equally, regardless of agreement or not. It is ok to disagree, but it must be done so in a way that is constructive to the class and without personally attacking another persons thoughts!
- I am will make as much time for students as possible - There may be times where you wish to speak with me privately, whether it be about something in class or your life outside the classroom. I will do my best to make myself available to students at all times. Sometimes this will not be possible to do so face to face, so emailing me or calling me is ok as well. Don't ever feel like you can't come to me with your thoughts!
- Above all we are here to learn - As stated above, I will do my best to keep class engaging and fun. However, we are all here to learn and accomplish goals, so business must be attended to. The faster and more efficiently we can get through the material and reach our goals, the more time there is to focus on more fun assignments and projects in class. Class will start on time and students will be expected to be ready for class everyday. If you feel you are falling behind or need help with the material, see me and we can discuss what to do to help you keep up with the class.
1. Refdesk - Checking facts in Internet sources is one of the key ways to evaluate them, and Refdesk.com, which stands for "reference desk," simplifies this essential step. Since 1995, Refdesk.com has served as a one-click springboard to many of the web's top dictionaries, encyclopedias, calculators, atlases, news headlines, and search engines.
2. Shakespeare Online - On this aptly named site, visitors can read every play or poem from the world's most celebrated writer and, more importantly, make some sense of his works with free analysis, Old English language translations, and famous quotes.
3. HowStuffWorks - Ever wanted to know why earthquakes happen? How CD burners work? What the sun is made of? These questions, and many others related to computers/electronics, automobiles, science, entertainment, and people, are all answered at this award-winning website. Simply type a query into the search window or peruse the topics by category. Extras include free newsletters, surveys, and printable versions of all answers.
4. http://owl.english.purdue.edu - Great site for anyone looking for more reference on writing and grammar related issues.
5. Bibme.org - Takes much of the confusion out of making a works cited page, as well as having the ability to search out the medium your looking for just by using the title or as much as you know about it.
“A student never forgets an encouraging private word, when it is given with sincere respect and admiration.” - Wlliam Lyon Phelps