Recently, your mom was cleaning out the garage - as she often does. In a closet she spotted her Teacher of the Year plaque from 2000-2001. It remains a small testament to an enormous career of excellence in the classroom.
Your mom also came across a large folder and a box of student work which she considered throwing out. Luckily, she decided to postpone that fateful decision for another day. In passing, she asked if I might photograph some of the best visuals and projects she had saved.
It is not what the very best teachers do in front of the class that defines their craft, but what they inspire students to do. As I sifted through the box, I found wonderful student work: stunning visuals, exceptional essays, poems and portfolios.
Your mom often told me that she could never convey her lesson planning to other English teachers. Her unit design could not be reduced to learning objectives, lesson steps, or formulaic fads. She had a special genius for planning a project and designing the steps for student success. Often, she wrote her own models to guide her class.
Your mom was equally talented at helping students with traditional essays or the most creative classroom activities. She got the very best academic effort and results from students of all skill levels, too.
You can get a glimpse into the mind of this master teacher and her powerful pedagogy by marveling at what her students produced and the models she created. Just click on the menu topics above or click on the Table of Contents. Enjoy the journey!