About Me

What is my background?
I have been an English teacher for fourteen years, having taught all grades and levels of students from seventh through twelvth grades. I am currently co-teaching with a special education teacher. We work with ninth graders who have identified reading disabilities. I also teach British literature and a speech communications class. In all my courses I have worked very hard to integrate technology into my curriculum.

What technical skills do I have to share?
I have worked in my school district as a go-to person for the on-line grading system we currently use. I was a Beta tester for this program called SchoolBook.
I am confortable teaching Microsoft Word and PowerPoint. Mac software I am capable of helping people work with are iLife programs such as Garage Band, iTunes, iPhoto, and iMovie (not an expert, but I know my way around it). My distirct also uses Xerox Docushare to strore information in a data base. I have developed training sessions with our staff to instruct them on how to use this program. I also use digital cameras and camcorders in class.
What coaching skills can I share?

A project I have done with my students...
My students must research Victorian England as a part of a Charles Dickens and Charlotte Bronte unit of study. I have found several web sites which take a look at life in Victorian England. Each student must turn in research notes and then create a narrative based on what he or she discovered online. The narrative is written in the first person and must be set up as a journal style piece of writing. Each student must use creative writing abilities, along with careful research in order to create a believable piece of writing. Some student journal topics include a mother or daughter preparing for a wedding, a servant preparing a holiday meal, a child anticipating Christmas, an aristocratic lady hosting a Victorian tea party, or a family who is mourning the death of a loved one. This activity has been a favorite of my students for the past two years.

My speech classes have made introductory podcasts as a means of getting to know eachother. They must include pictues and voice for the podcast.

Currently, my speech class is making podcasts on "hot issues," in which each person is given an issue to research and then create a persuasive podcast for the group to view, weighing each side and deciding which is better at presenting the issue.

• My Interests
  Educational Technology