Growing up, kids like to pretend they're going to be doctors or professional athletes or astronauts. I wanted to be a teacher. I'm not even kidding - I had my own classroom in my garage where the neighborhood students came. This started in third grade and continued into middle school. I would find out what they knew, teach them a lesson, and then assign them homework. I would tell (tattle) their parents if they didn't do the work. My first parent/ teacher conferences were held at my neighbor's house in their living room. I assessed my friend Doug's progress in math, which was dreadful from what I remember, and gave pointers on how he could use flashcards to increase his fluency. And yes, I used the word fluency.

I feel that my teaching philosophy can best be explained with an adage that I was introduced to in another position: Keep the student at the center of every decision you make. This guides my planning and instruction every single day. I remember that students are the reason I am here, and the "easy" approach for me may not be what is best for them. My aim is to make sure that my students understand the material, which requires me to assess mastery in a variety of manners. There is no one way to teach or assess a student, so, as a teacher, I cannot give up. I enjoy being innovative and spending my free time researching new technologies or approaches to a subject. It is my goal to always be a student of my field so I do not forget a student's mentality.

Students should be able to also apply information from my class to their outside lives. It is my hope that they feel empowered after gaining skills in my course so that they can better their lives, as well as the world. My students do not just learn how to write; they learn how powerful writing can influence those in control. They see the power in words and want to use them rather than have to use them. Discussions take on a life of their own as I carefully poke at their logic to make them use their critical thinking skills. We do not just turn in a paper and move on - we use those same skills, but apply them in different ways all throughout the course. Language is life, and we need to learn control over it to succeed.