How I Teach
"We read to know that we are not alone." C.S. Lewis (in William Nicholson's play, Shadowlands)

11 Things that are Fundamental to How I Teach (in no particular order and evolving)

1. Listen - really listen to your students

2. Assign texts you believe are important and that the students might never read on their own

3. If you assign a reading, quiz the students on that reading

4. Connections, connections, connections - these will draw the student in and improve critical thinking

5. Respect your students and make sure they are respecting each other

6. Assign and accept work in a way that is as fair and useful (for the student) as possible

7. Stick to the actual text as much as possible.

8. Symbolism, themes, and other jargon are not that useful (in my class anyway)

9. Students (and the teacher) should always be a little out of their comfort zone

10. Students (and the teacher) should push themselves further than they think they can go - in a nurturing way.

11. Use every single second of class.