About Me
Hi everyone, I'm Mary! I am currently in my junior year of college and studying to be a high school English teacher. I'm excited to announce that I'll be completing 30 hours of field experience in a local high school this semester, and I'm looking forward to getting as much real world experience as I can. I will be student teaching in the spring of 2015. In my free time I enjoy swimming, trying new Pinterest recipes and crafts, drinking lots of coffee, and reading. I also strongly believe in being involved in the community, and I participate in various service projects like American Cancer Society's Relay for Life, NETwork Against Malaria, and volunteering at the local food pantry.
My Teacher Story
Ever notice that teachers tend to have great stories of how they chose their professions? Or rather, how the profession chose them? I decided that I wanted to teach while I was tutoring in high school. I was asked to tutor a third grader in math as part of my school's community service club. Admittedly, I was less than thrilled at first about walking to a local elementary school twice a week after school,
but the first day I met my student changed that. She was funny, outspoken, and
surprisingly eager to learn once she was focused on the lesson. After
watching her struggle with her math homework, I was surprised to learn that she
did not really have any issues with the math problems themselves. She could not
comprehend the directions and was totally lost when it came to word problems.
That is when we switched gears and started practicing reading skills. Before
she could start on the word problem, she had to read it out loud to me and
rephrase it in her own words. I created extra word problems for her involving
characters and activities that she liked. Not surprisingly, she could solve
words problems just fine when she could actually comprehend what they were
asking and especially when they involved planning a party for Hannah Montana.
The satisfaction I received by helping her succeed proved that there was no
other profession for me.
Once I had decided on teaching, English was not a hard choice. It is true that I have always enjoyed reading and writing myself, but more importantly, my two years of tutoring showed me that effective reading skills were essential to success in every aspect of life. The communication skills, reading comprehension, and critical thinking skills that are wrapped up in the study of English are vital. I am also motivated by how effective English classes introduce students to new ideas through the study of literature that challenge students to broaden their minds, form opinions, defend their opinions, and respect differing opinions. I have found that academic growth and personal growth coexist in an English classroom in a way that I have never experienced in any other class. It would be a great honor for me to participate in and facilitate that kind of learning in my students.
Once I had decided on teaching, English was not a hard choice. It is true that I have always enjoyed reading and writing myself, but more importantly, my two years of tutoring showed me that effective reading skills were essential to success in every aspect of life. The communication skills, reading comprehension, and critical thinking skills that are wrapped up in the study of English are vital. I am also motivated by how effective English classes introduce students to new ideas through the study of literature that challenge students to broaden their minds, form opinions, defend their opinions, and respect differing opinions. I have found that academic growth and personal growth coexist in an English classroom in a way that I have never experienced in any other class. It would be a great honor for me to participate in and facilitate that kind of learning in my students.
Contact Info
E-mail: [email protected]