Head Of Teaching, English Teacher, History Teacher
Current Teach students to learn a sophisticated, concise, thoughtful, and grammatically correct expression of writing. Designed and taught guided-reading and guided-writing assignments based upon the theories of Fountas & Pinnell, Carl Rogers, Peter Elbow, and others. Utilized effective classroom techniques including the display of mastery of skills, experiential learning projects, student-led debates, in-class skits paired with persuasive essay assignments, vocabulary jeopardy, and more. Trained new teachers in revision strategies, grading policies, curriculum design, selection of grade-specific literature, implementation of a class management system, and more. Infused teaching with the latest literacy theories, including connecting prior-knowledge and personal experience to topic to activate long-term memory; and making text-to-self, text-to-world, and text-to-text connections. Taught students advanced test-taking strategies for success on the MCAS, SAT, ACT, and Park standardized tests. Designed, taught, edited, and graded weekly writing assignments. Formed successful working relationships with administrators, students, and parents. Received accolades, letters of appreciation, phone calls, and holiday gifts from parents grateful for their child’s improvement in essay writing, newfound love of reading, awards from writing contests, acceptance into elite private schools and universities, outstanding grades, and standardized test scores often in the 99th percentile. Mentored student-led research projects that produced compelling and advanced research reports including gathering data and findings from prior research, formulating research objectives, identifying existing problems, and formulating effective recommendations. Followed the Massachusetts state guidelines for reading, writing and grammar instruction.
