Ellen’s Blog

While my graduate classes have afforded me the opportunity to improve my writing skills, learn more about the students I hope to educate, and strategize new ways to teach literature, one of the main skills (and I do consider it a skill) I have mastered is the art of the PowerPoint Presentation. I cannot […]

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Fostering a sense of respect in students (for their teacher and their peers) is definitely one of my biggest challenges as a student teacher.  Perhaps it is the particular group of students that I work with, but I constantly hear students putting each other down.  Just the other day I was appalled to hear one […]

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 “Michael [English teacher] asks students to place a mark on a concentric circle graph that indicates where they are in relation to the center of money and power.  There are five concentric rings: One is the closest to the center of power and money, and five is the most distant.”  (Appleman’s Critical Encounters in High […]

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In my own personal reading, I find myself identifying best with characters full of emotions, passions, and unique voice.  I know that I am not alone in this search for realistic characters that extend beyond stereotypes.  I’ve read articles suggesting that many young readers (especially females) seek strong, complex characters.  Sadly, these characters are virtually […]

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From my own experiences as a student in a public high school, I recall learning nothing about literary theory.  It was not until I reached upper division English courses in college that someone finally enlightened me, and I was initiated into the world of literary theory and criticism.  Now a graduate student, I still feel […]

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Welcome to my blog!  This is my first experience blogging, and I am hoping to learn a great deal.  I am currently working on my masters in English Education.  I expect this blog to reflect some of the knowledge that I am gaining from my studies, as well as questions that I still have regarding English Education.  By […]

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