Anna J.

Why They Want to Substitute Teach

In the times I have volunteered in the classroom or led workshops, I have been able to bring students out of their shell, even those who have had no interest in English Lit or creative writing - to see these kids participate, learn, or just have a better understanding of what it means to be a reader, writer or artist, is incredibly fulfilling. It's an honor to be able to help or show a child / teen that they have abilities they may not even understand are there yet.

About Them

I believe that having four kids - all of whom are very different despite having the same parents and upbringing - has really showed me that each kid is unique, not only in who he or she is, but in how they learn. I think it's a joy to figure out how to best teach to each child's understanding. Though I know that's not always practical from a time or resource standpoint, it's still the ethos with which I approach presenting a workshop or educational opportunity. For me, it's about first connecting with that student, and from there, teaching them the material. In addition to being passionate about this, I also enjoy connecting big ideas in art and literature to students' everyday lives - if we don't make what we're teaching relevant, it will most likely not be absorbed. As far as hobbies, I enjoy reading, writing, traveling, playing tennis and helping out at animal rescues (we have two dogs & three cats ourselves!)

Experience with Children

In addition to being a mother of four (currently ages 9-17), I've also consistently volunteered in each child's classroom assisting lead teachers with math, literature & writing lessons at the lower/upper el & middle school levels. In addition to this, I have experience leading graduate-level creative writing workshops as well community writing workshops & critical discussion of literary text in both independent and school environments for all ages.

Grade Level Preferences

References

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