Reader2writer

Have 16 years of experience working with and instructing children in an urban school district. Currently work as a 7th & 8th Grade ELA & Creative Writing teacher at a Junior High School in Cincinnati, Ohio. Author of the Adolescent Hi Lo Book: "Life Like" Author of the Adult Novels: "Forgotten Sin" & "Dark Steps"

I fully believe that lesson plans need to involve a high level of engagement. That said, lessons need to be multi-modal in their design incorporating visually appealing material, multiple mediums, and a variety of activities that go along with high-interest stories and articles. Rigor, Relevance, and Relationships have become the framework in which I design and instruct lessons. The goal is to develop a high level of critical and creative thinking and output (Quad D, DOK, Progression Scales) with students. Students need to be able to adapt to the ever-changing world economy and advances. Their path to success starts in the classroom...

Awarded to the Chancellor’s List for outstanding performance at the graduate level. Awarded the Dream Keeper’s Award for excellence in teaching.

THE OHIO STATE UNIVERSITY – Columbus, Ohio BA - Social and Behavioral Sciences - Psychology - June 2002 THE OHIO STATE UNIVERSITY – Columbus, Ohio M.Ed. - Master of Education - Middle Childhood Development - July 2005 THE INSTITUTE OF CHILDREN’S LITERATURE – West Redding, Conn. Diploma - Writing for Children and Teenagers – January 2007 NORTHERN KENTUCKY UNIVERSITY - Highland Heights, Kentucky MAE – Master of English – Creative Writing Certificate - December 2015

After 16 years of experience (...and counting) teaching Middle School English and Language Arts & Creative Writing in urban districts, two master's degrees, and a massive amount of black coffee, I have come to realize the dire need for creativity and imagination in my classroom. I was taught at The Ohio State University to design lessons and curriculum from scratch. Yet, my experience has yielded very minimal opportunities to indulge this profound love of mine. Ultimately this led me to Northern Kentucky University, where I acquired my second master's degree in English/Creative Writing. Since then, I have produced multiple lesson plans, materials, short stories for adolescents, and several other manuscripts for both adolescents and adults.