A Detroit-based Harlem Renaissance aficionado, with fifteen (15) years experience teaching high school English, loves engaging and empowering young minds.

Methodology

Two critical mantras instilled in me by Dr. Jacqueline Tilles, Wayne State professor extraordinaire are: "All students CAN learn!" and "Reach a student where he or she is, and bring them UP!" These two statements provide the foundation for the framework of my teaching methodology.

I determine what skills and knowledge a student already possesses. Once this is determined, we can proceed to build upon and strengthen his or her "prior knowledge." We accomplish this through literature (by invoking the understanding of devices and structure), through grammar and vocabulary (challenges and games), and writing (and editing, and re-writing, and editing, and re-writing....). I also sometimes ask students to create quizzes and tests, with an answer key, as a method of assessing their acumen on a particular subject or piece of literature.