About Me.
I am a teacher candidate at California State University, San Marcos, working to obtain a Single Subject Preliminary Credential in English in June. I will also add specific subject authorizations in Journalism & US Government and US Civics (I double majored in journalism and political science at Indiana University).
I want to teach English because I love teaching students how to write, think, and express themselves with clarity. I began my career working in local journalism, and I chose to pivot to a teaching career in part because I believe young people are the key to building kinder, more informed communities. And I love working with adolescents!
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I've always been an avid reader and writer — I have found so much personal and professional fulfillment through both activities, and I'm so excited to share that passion with my students. When I'm not reading or writing, I love spending time at the beach, exploring local hikes, and taking or teaching fitness classes. Can you tell I'm a San Diego native? :)
My teaching philosophy
Student Engagement: I believe student engagement is a product of individual relationships and meaningful content. I pride myself on delivering well-structured lessons that build toward specific goals that align with standards while exploring important topics that reflect and build on experiences in students lives. I enjoy inquiry-based instruction that asks students to grapple with big ideas, enriched by literature that cultivates empathy. I think students are motivated to participate when they are given relevant content that they can see a purpose in, and I strive to make the purpose behind every lesson known.
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Classroom Management: My classroom management style is built on structure and care. I appreciate having daily routines and expectations so that students know what to expect when they walk into my room. For example, I might project a daily bell ringer slide so that students begin class in the same fashion every day. This consistency in structure creates room for exploration in content. I also believe that a strong class culture is set by a genuine teacher who facilitates connections with and among her students. I aim to show my care through every interaction I have with students, whether it's related to academic content or life outside of the classroom.
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AI and Classroom Technology: I believe contemporary instruction must prepare students to succeed amid AI's evolving influence on society. This looks like teaching students how to think for themselves while also teaching students how to use AI to enhance their learning. When prompting creative and critical thinking, for example, I try to create assignments that AI cannot replicate. (Examples: visual representations of learning, personal writing, discussions, etc.) At the same time, I want to teach students how to use AI as a tool to supplement and further their learning without allowing a robot to think for them. (Example: I created a MagicSchool AI room for students to receive inquiry-driven feedback at the final step of the writing process, based on a rubric and parameters I set).