Hi, my name is Erin, and I’m so glad you’re here!
As the first child in my family to graduate from college, I learned firsthand that education is a vehicle for not only personal development, but also social mobility. I strongly believe that English-language arts (ELA) skills are the keys to the vehicle.
I am a former public school teacher certified in English grades 6-12. My bachelor’s degree is in English, and I have a minor in education. I focused on prose fiction while in undergrad, and I taught grammar, vocabulary, writing, and literature–primarily American literature with a focus on diversity–in the classroom. I attended grad school for a year before leaving to attend law school, where I won best brief, was named on multiple book awards in multiple courses, and participated in moot court, all largely because of my reading and writing skills.
My goal is for students to leave my classes with a high-level mastery of basic language arts skills.
Grammar
Grades 6-12. My year-long grammar classes begin with reviewing the parts of speech and progress through parts of a sentence, phrases, clauses, verbals, diction and usage, ultimately to reach units on sentence variation and subordination and coordination for college-bound students.
Vocabulary
Grades 6-12. While I do believe that vocabulary should be taught “in the wild,” I am a proponent of teaching vocabulary skills as well as roots, prefixes, and suffixes. I cover these beginning with context clues and continuing through all facets of morphology.
Literature
Grades 9-12. My literature classes focus on short-form literature such as brief (fewer than 20 pages) short stories and poems. Please note that analysis in my classes may (will?) include feminist and Marxist analyses and exposure to diverse cultures and opinions. My classes are for mature, high-achieving students who want to sharpen skills for college coursework.
If you wish to get in touch with me, check out my contact page.
Never stop learning,
Erin