Learning occurs when a student is in a safe, comfortable environment where they feel respected and engaged. As a teacher, I pride myself on ensuring that every student in my classroom feels like they have a voice, and that their voice is important. A student should never feel ashamed or afraid to express their opinion. When I teach, I start with a passionate approach to the material. I love Language Arts and strive to garner as much knowledge about the material as I can so that I can present true and credible information to my students. I then determine the most exciting way to convey the material so that each student is engaged. I learn as much as I can about the student's interests, passions, and hobbies, so that I can create analogies to their lives and impart the information in such a way that they can apply it to what they already know and care about. I believe that this method contributes to long term retention. My goal is, not only for my class to do well on standardized exams, but to carry a lifelong passion for learning and for the material that I've presented them. I feel an enormous sense of pride when I know that I've made a difference in a student's life. I want my students to see the importance of education and value in the betterment of themselves and their community. I believe that test scores don't tell the entire story of a student's progress, but an overview of the student as a whole is important to measure learning. How has the student progressed in the classroom? Have they shown a new interest in the subject? Have they volunteered more information about themselves over the course of a semester? Are they willing to participate in class discussion, whereas, before they were quiet? These are all questions I ask myself and measures I use to determine if I am teaching effectively. I believe in always working to become a better teacher and person. Therefore, I am always measuring my progress as well as the student's, and asking myself what I can do to become better at my job. One of the best ways for me to be a better teacher is to learn from my students. I embrace technology in my classroom and want the students to be excited about Language Arts as it applies to the world in which they operate. Social Media, blogging, and the internet in general are important spheres for education, and I like to make a connection to technology and the subject matter in which I'm teaching so that students are excited to see the application.

Q&A with Brandon

Tutoring Subjects