Ann R.

Effective IB, AP, Grad. English Lit, Comp. & TOK Teacher

Effective IB, AP, Grad. English Lit, Comp. & TOK Teacher

My aim is to inspire research-based learning to bring out students’ best. A Professor of International Cambridge English A Language and Literature, International Baccalaureate English A Literature, English B (ESL), Text in Performance and Theory of Knowledge, a supervisor and former IB Examiner for the Extended Essay and Paper 1 Commentary, a Creative Writing teacher and a published author of research and creative work, I invite learners into the world of discovery learning through shared inquiry practices that develop their character-learner traits: curiosity, reflectivity, understanding, integrity, communication skills, compassion, principled risk-taking courage, and balance. They learn to be closer readers of themselves, literature and other people. Given the American poet, Emily Dickinson’s comparison between a frigate and a book, my students also travel. They explore both inner and outer landscapes as they engage in a great variety of cultural and historical contexts for creative works. They learn composing skills, such as patterned oral and written speech, from established authors. They also engage in a variety of personalized formative tasks to bring out their best performances for summative tasks, such as IB and AP exams, SAT and ACT tests. Learning how to learn, they realize how revision is vital to improved creative and critical thinking. Many of my IB students have received full marks or 6/7, and many present IB candidates significantly improve their reading and writing practices to receive marks of 6/7 or 7/7, giving them the possibility of university scholarships or Freshman English wavers. A number of my students publish either research or creative work.

To fulfill my aim, I must bring my love of language, literature and composition, my love of learning and my appreciation for the ways that students can experience meaningful and enjoyable learning. So, I study my students, learn their keys to learning, their strengths and their challenges. From my graduate study in Education for Gifted, Creative Learners, I bring understanding of Howard Gardner's theory of multiple intelligences that I apply to creating formative and differentiated tasks so vital to engaging students’ centers of control for learning/self-organizing practice and summative task performance. I bring understanding of creativity and how to evaluate it as developed by Paul Torrence and and Mihalyi Csikszentmihalyi. I bring an understanding of Kazimierz Dabrowski and Michael Piekowski’s research, studying how literature engages multilevel inner growth toward the personality ideal. I apply their research, as well as Bloom’s Taxonomy of Cognitive Development to form shared inquiry questions that move from answers to questioning answers, always to engage self-questioning, self-evaluation and meta-cognitive “how do you know that you know” development. These teaching arts result in student focus, participation in their learning, development of centers of control for learning, enjoyment of learning and challenges, improved critical and creative thinking, all resulting in their holistic growth, academic improvement and better marks. In addition, I bring doctoral work in the study of literature through performance in cultural and historical contexts. Students who enjoy research-based learning enjoy working with me.

Please join my happy students whose love of learning has taken them on journeys to high-ranking universities and beyond. Contact me with your questions and to schedule lessons.