Teaching Philosophy

My goal as a teacher is to connect the subjects of literature and writing to the realities of my students, while making the community of a classroom a place where all students can express, explore, and share their discoveries. Students will learn collaborative as well as independent learning skills. I don't believe in "fast food education". Fast food is quick, easy, and cheap. While fast food has its occasional place as a meal, subsisting on it will only leave us unhealthy, unsatisfied, and lacking in the basic nutrients we need to survive. Similarly, an education approached with the same careless attention -- a teacher lecturing all period while students take notes, or a student sitting back while fellow classmates address the difficult and challenging questions -- leaves students unprepared for the challenges before them, both academic challenges as well as those in the working world.

I believe that education should improve the life of every student by giving them a better understanding of themselves and the world around them; successfully educated students result in individuals who value and actively pursue life-long learning.

Finally, whether is discipline or praise, class discussion or student conference, my aspiration is to have compassion for my students at the heart of every action I take as a teacher.
For a more lengthy piece about my teaching goals, visit this page.

Ms. De Mers in typical "See? There you go!''" pose

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