My teaching approach is student-oriented, meaning that once I acquaint myself with my pupil (s), I am able to grasp quite quickly what methods will be the most successful. I usually warm up with a discussion on a pre-set topic and then design assignments based on what I draw from the students, thus ensuring their engagement. If a student requires extra guidance, I give it. If a student is prepared to take more initiative on his or her own topic, I will give both leeway and guidance. I always tell my students that presence, finished homework and then having FUN through class engagement are my top requirements. I believe students must find learning fun in order to become good thinkers and to retain knowledge.
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I have a PhD in modern literature and have 5 years teaching experience, beginning with third grade on to university level. My most recent experience was teaching at California College of the Arts, St. Mary's College and University of California at Davis. During these years I also tutored students privately and in small groups.
My first lesson is no longer free, although I have not been able to edit out this early offer.
CURRICULUM VITAE
EDUCATION
Ph.D., English, University of California, Davis, 1993. Dissertation: Narrative and Lyric Combined: a Look at Contemporary Poetic Structure. Advisor: Alan Williamson. Second reader: Richard Wollheim.
Master of Arts, Stanford University, English Literature and Creative Writing, 1984. Thesis: Lincoln’s Twin: Poems and Translations. Advisor: Simone DiPiero.
Bachelor of Arts, Pacific Oaks College, Human Development, 1975.
TEACHING EXPERIENCE
St. Mary’s College, Moraga, California, 2003-2016. Taught Collegiate Seminar, prose and fiction (Important 19th-century works), Greek Thought, and Roman Christian Mediaeval Thought. All seminars contain a significant writing component.
Taught English composition courses, including composition for non-English speakers. Oral communication for non-English speakers.
Participation in composition workshops at St. Mary’s College for the purpose of assessing student writing and how it is taught.
Stephen F. Austin State College, Nacogdoches, Texas, spring 1995. Guest taught a graduate seminar in twentieth-century women’s’ poetry. Also conducted poetry writing workshop.
University of California, Davis, September 1993 - 1996. Postdoctoral Lecturer in Advanced Composition (English 103).
University of California, Davis, 1986 through 1992 (a total of 14 quarters). Introduction to Literature, Close Reading of Poetry, English 1, and English A. Participation in conferences concerning writing theory and curriculum design. English composition placement screening for incoming freshman.
Laney College, Oakland, California. English 1.
Chabot College, Hayward, California. Freshman Composition; Introduction to Literature; Writing Laboratory; Spelling and Pronunciation; Technical Writing.
Merritt College, Oakland, California. Remedial English; ESL (beginning conversation).
Vista College, Oakland, California. Intermediate ESL (grammar and conversation); Contemporary Latin American Literature (teaching and curriculum development); Beginning Reading.
California Poets In The Schools (CPITS), 1978 - 1980. Oakland and Berkeley public schools, grades 3 through 8.
PROFESSIONAL WRITING and SCHOLARSHIP
Freelance writer (1995 - present), publishing book reviews and articles on contemporary fiction, poetry, and non-fiction in the following newspapers/journals (partial list):
The Atlanta Journal and Constitution
The Austin Statesman
The Boston Review
The Chicago Tribune
The Dallas Morning News
The Georgia Review
The Los Angeles Times
The Miami Herald
The New Criterion
The New York Times
The Philadelphia Inquirer
The San Diego Union-Tribune
The San Francisco Chronicle
The Washington Post
Monthly column ("Way Out West") in The San Diego Union Tribune, 1999 - 2001. Reviewed literature of California and the American West.
Article on the plays of Adrienne Kennedy published in Theater Southwest, October 1990.
Essay and bibliography published in Bulletin of Bibliography on the works of Louise Glück, December 1987.
Poems published in national journals including Prairie Schooner, Michigan Quarterly Review, Columbia Journal, The Berkeley Poetry Review, Tikkun, Southern Poetry Review, and others.
Poetry Chapbook : Unimaginary Landscapes, 2015
AREAS OF SPECIALIZATION
Nineteenth and Twentieth century British and American literature.
HONORS/AWARDS
Postdoctoral Lectureship, University of California, Davis, fall 1993 - spring 1996.
U.C. Regents fellowship, 1993.
Academy of American Poets Competition, University of California, Davis, 2nd place, 1986.
LANGUAGES
Spanish, fluency
French, reading and conversational competency
Hebrew, reading competency, speaking basics
Perfect! Zoe has been working with Paula for more than 6 months. Paula is a very enthusiastic teacher and gives her students attention, trust, validation, inspiration, and appreciates the beauty of the literature.
Thanks, Paula!
Zoe is a bright imaginative child and is reading and thinking about two grade levels ahead of her peers. I will work on her oral reading skills--just a matter of slowing down and annunciating a bit more clearly.
Perfect! We were very lucky to have Paula. She is able to motivate our son so he is not scared to write. He enjoys the learning and requests to extend the class.
Jerry is an articulate young boy who just needs a bit of direction to gear up his writing motivation. He has already begun to learn that his imagination can play a big part in writing, that it is not all about mechanics!
Paula has a wonderful gift for language and the empathy and discipline to help other people develop their own talents. I've known her for more than 50 years, watched her develop as a poet, enjoyed the rigor of her thoughts, her ability to reach out to others and stimulate their love of learning. I recommend her to all your members.
Paula is a very enthusiastic teacher and gives the student attention, trust, validation, inspiration and appreciates the beauty of the literature.
Thanks, Paula!
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