Teaching Philosophy
As a teacher educator, I believe that it is my job to facilitate the exploration of behaviors and discourses associated with becoming a teacher. For me, this is about engaging students in collaborative and constructive interactions that provide occasions for students to develop a strong vision of the kind of teacher they want to become. I want to facilitate that process within a supportive community that teaches candidates about how to navigate contradictory ideologies within fixed institutions (Alsup, 2006). In my work with current teachers and teacher candidates, I hope to provide occasions for them to become lifelong teachers by developing appropriate instruction for various learning needs and populations, becoming experts in their content-area, critically reflecting on their practice, and leading professional growth within learning communities.
The Courses I Teach
TED 730 Qualitative Research and Design
This course explores qualitative research design in education, including its history, philosophy and nature. Topics include types of qualitative research, assessment issues, and critical reading of qualitative research.
This course explores qualitative research design in education, including its history, philosophy and nature. Topics include types of qualitative research, assessment issues, and critical reading of qualitative research.
TED 551: Teaching Practices and Curriculum in High School English
This course combines theory and practice in the teaching of high school English. In class and field work, students learn how to demonstrate effective lesson planning, effectively evaluate student work, and reflect on their own growth as teachers.
This course combines theory and practice in the teaching of high school English. In class and field work, students learn how to demonstrate effective lesson planning, effectively evaluate student work, and reflect on their own growth as teachers.
TED 465: Student Teaching Seminar
The student teaching seminar provides students with a full-time teaching internship. Students will learn from their cooperating teacher, integrate subject matter content knowledge, utilize pedagogical content knowledge, and develop curricular knowledge to develop their personal knowledge of English teaching anchored in the English education community of practice. The seminar provides students with a specific time and place to question, to discuss, and to process our experiences while student teaching. Current issues, trends, and concerns will be addressed.
The student teaching seminar provides students with a full-time teaching internship. Students will learn from their cooperating teacher, integrate subject matter content knowledge, utilize pedagogical content knowledge, and develop curricular knowledge to develop their personal knowledge of English teaching anchored in the English education community of practice. The seminar provides students with a specific time and place to question, to discuss, and to process our experiences while student teaching. Current issues, trends, and concerns will be addressed.
TED 535: Literacy in the Content Area
Designed to prepare elementary, middle grades, secondary, and special subject or content area teachers to work with students who exhibit a variety of reading and writing levels. As an online course designed for practicing lateral entry teachers, class participation will require a higher level of self-direction, self-monitoring, and motivation. Reflections on assigned readings will be done through blogs, BlackBoard postings and participation in Elluminate. Class members will have opportunities to participate in collaborative groups through Elluminate. Class lectures will be in the format of PowerPoints posted on BlackBoard and Elluminate. Teaching strategies will also include inquiry activities, discussions, presentations, and reflective activities that will be facilitated through BlackBoard, blogs, and Elluminate.
Designed to prepare elementary, middle grades, secondary, and special subject or content area teachers to work with students who exhibit a variety of reading and writing levels. As an online course designed for practicing lateral entry teachers, class participation will require a higher level of self-direction, self-monitoring, and motivation. Reflections on assigned readings will be done through blogs, BlackBoard postings and participation in Elluminate. Class members will have opportunities to participate in collaborative groups through Elluminate. Class lectures will be in the format of PowerPoints posted on BlackBoard and Elluminate. Teaching strategies will also include inquiry activities, discussions, presentations, and reflective activities that will be facilitated through BlackBoard, blogs, and Elluminate.
TED 676 & 677: Teacher as Researcher and Leader I & II
This course is designed as a collaborative, critical examination of teacher research and leadership. It focuses on the rationale, issues, and implications of the current teacher research and leadership movement within education and on the research strategies and techniques that can be used by teachers in conducting research and leadership in their own classroom settings and schools.
This course is designed as a collaborative, critical examination of teacher research and leadership. It focuses on the rationale, issues, and implications of the current teacher research and leadership movement within education and on the research strategies and techniques that can be used by teachers in conducting research and leadership in their own classroom settings and schools.
TED 695: Youth LIteracies
This course is part of the required courses in the M.A. program in Middle and Secondary Language Arts. The coursework helps teachers build the necessary understanding of advanced literacy studies, specifically as it relates to teaching and learning youth literacies (i.e., internet, television, etc.). In particular, media literacy is a significant way to challenge students to understand the constructed nature of media representations and how that might influence their own beliefs about themselves and others. This class helps to prepare teachers for 21st century teaching and learning, especially as it relates to current goals in education focused on preparing students to use digital technology and communication tools to construct new knowledge and access and evaluation information.
This course is part of the required courses in the M.A. program in Middle and Secondary Language Arts. The coursework helps teachers build the necessary understanding of advanced literacy studies, specifically as it relates to teaching and learning youth literacies (i.e., internet, television, etc.). In particular, media literacy is a significant way to challenge students to understand the constructed nature of media representations and how that might influence their own beliefs about themselves and others. This class helps to prepare teachers for 21st century teaching and learning, especially as it relates to current goals in education focused on preparing students to use digital technology and communication tools to construct new knowledge and access and evaluation information.