Avenue –                                        Kimberly Erickson

I am a recent graduate of Stony Brook University’s MAT English program, and I am New York State certified to teach English Grades 7-12. I am looking for a position as a teacher of English. Through my experiences student teaching in the Half Hollow Hills School District, working as a teacher’s assistant at Binghamton University and working as a resident assistant at Berkeley University, I have developed an expansive knowledge in the use of technology in the classroom. I have also developed a background in teaching writing and reading to both native English speakers as well as ESL students.

Many of the ELA lessons that I have created and taught incorporate technological resources. Some of these resources include WebQuests, Website design, Blogs, Illuminated Sonnets, Wikipedia.com, Blackboard and Turnitin.com. I created this electronic portfolio in order to provide a sample of the lessons and activities that I have created.  Also included within this portfolio are my resume, teaching philosophy and links to websites that can be utilized by ELA teachers and students. As an avid user of technology, I am aware of the benefits of keeping students involved in our society’s technological advances, and am prepared to utilize technology in the ELA classroom.

One of my strongest attributes as an ELA teacher is my extensive background in writing. As an undergraduate, I took many rhetoric courses and completed an internship at Cordes Public Relations. As a teacher’s assistant, I tutored ESL students in writing and taught several different genres of writing including the narrative, the academic essay, the research paper and the analytical essay. At Berkeley University I initiated and led a creative writing club. Finally, at Half Hollow Hills High School East I gained experience teaching a Regents preparatory writing course. I have taught writing to students at various levels and believe that all students benefit from a comprehensive understanding of the writing process.

             As a teacher, I believe that I will be able to foster a community environment and meet the needs of my individual students. I will also be able to use authentic assessment activities to evaluate and improve student performance on the New York State ELA exams. I am positive that I will be able to motivate students to work to their highest potentials and am looking forward to working with students at the secondary level.