Stephanie Butcher

My teaching philosophy is based on my belief that the study of English allows us to become better readers and writers of human experiences. Becoming well-versed in the study of English encourages connectivity and communication with the world and people around us. My course assignments and classroom activities encourage students to cultivate both diverse and mindful interpretation and communication when addressing literature and composition. Throughout my teaching experience, I have strived to meet the following goals.

ACKNOWLEDGE AND SUPPORT EACH STUDENT AS AN INDIVIDUAL LEARNER

I pride myself on my ability to connect with students and create meaningful relationships that foster respect with each and every student. I believe that the key to motivating students lies within these connections. Within my classroom, I have endeavored to acquaint myself with each student’s educational needs, as well as, their personal interests. I try to include the students’ personal interests in my course assignments which allows the student to feel a connection with the literature or composition.

PROMOTE CREATIVITY AND CRITICAL THINKING

I demonstrate respect for all of my students and through my example; students demonstrate respect for one another and the course. This atmosphere of trust is our platform for successful class participation and discussion. I encourage students to construct critical interpretations of literary texts and challenge them to always support their answers with evidence from the text.  When constructing composition pieces, I utilize collaborative learning, such as peer-editing, to expose students to varied interpretations and constructive criticism of their work.