Shaun C.

Student well-being, alongside learning, is at the heart of my practice. I am always amazed by how young people interact and engage with texts. As a result, the English classroom is a unique space filled with wonder, excitement, and an abundance of different ideas and perspectives. Through the academic study of literature and an appreciation of language, I plan for my students to be well-rounded and prepared for university and beyond. I consider myself a creative, diligent, and caring person who forms positive relationships with colleagues, students, and the parent body. The behavior I expect from students is precisely what I endeavor to model myself: honesty, integrity, openness, and a keen desire to collaborate. Recently, our English department has adopted a flexible and responsive approach to feedback, whereby we target needs and challenge strengths in a supportive, specific, and helpful manner. We always provide plenty of challenges to help fuel students' curiosity outside the classroom. We aim to maintain high expectations of all our students and scaffold where appropriate to facilitate the accessibility of the curriculum to all. After much dialogue and decision-making with colleagues, we recently planned a superb new curriculum for our DP Language and Literature students, tackling global issues such as racism and gender inequality through various literary and non-literary texts. We have also initiated and supported whole-school climate Change projects, such as writing persuasive letters to state governors. I see education as much more than simply the transferral of knowledge, and I try to approach teaching holistically. We must nurture our students' emotional intelligence as much as their intellect. I understand the benefits school councils can have on the community and the pastoral side of schooling. Seeking out student feedback about departmental and whole-school issues can Help develop a positive and empowered cohort of young people. A life-long learner, I recently started a YouTube channel. I hope to continue growing based on whatever curricula my students must tackle. I am genuinely passionate about teaching, and when I see students converted to the world of reading, storytelling, drama, and appreciating poetry and motivated to write, argue, and debate, I remember why I started teaching in the first place.

I will ask you precisely what you need and plan accordingly. I want to get a clear picture of your strengths and weaknesses. All classes will be tailored to suit you.

I will ask you precisely what you need and plan accordingly. I want to get a clear picture of your strengths and weaknesses. All classes will be tailored to suit you.

Motivation comes from feeling you are good at something. You must see the progress you are making and be proud of yourself.

Break it down into its constituent parts. We will work at the challenge line by line, slowly. For example, you must know how to plan and structure an essay. There is no point in attempting to write one without proper planning first.

I read to them aloud and narrate what is happening in my own words. Once you start to "see" the story, your comprehension will improve.

Working on creating answers together. So, for example, let's say you want to analyze a poem by writing an essay; we would write it together, line by line. Then, once you get the hang of it, you can have a go at doing it on your own.

I would make sure the students see the real-world importance of the thing they are studying. It is impossible to be excited about something that has no purpose.

Modeling through example essays breaks down how the writer created the piece. Mini-quizzes. Closed and open-ended questioning. Planning and structuring resources.

Show them that they are good at it. All students can make rapid progress.

Compare their work to example essays and show them the differences. Evaluation should be a shared and non-judgmental process.

Constant reflection and dialogue.

Example essays, essay planning documents, past exam papers, text extracts, live speaking exam recordings, YouTube videos with guidance on interpreting them, Lit Charts, and conversation.