ELA Teacher - Middle & High School Experience

Paige S.

My name is Paige, and I am a current ELA teacher. I received my master's degree from Vanderbilt University in Secondary Education with an emphasis in ELA. Through my sense of humor and outgoing personality, I can make ELA fun and engaging. Before diving into a text, I utilize relevant interests and discussions so that students feel more comfortable and confident.

In college, I majored in Entertainment Industry Studies and minored in Music Business. I am very passionate about TV, music, and pop culture, so I bring these into the classroom as frequently as possible. Most recently, we analyzed acting choices in Fences and debated which lead actor deserved an Oscar. We dissected body language, facial expressions, and tone. This activity allowed students to showcase their learning through a more engaging medium and to strengthen their understanding of the written text.

I have tutored many students in reading, test prep, and writing. Recently, I guided a 7th grade student through the figurative language of two Langston Hughes poems. I started by defining devices such as imagery, metaphor, and symbolism. Then, I used visual aids and real-world examples to guide understanding. For example, “When you’re driving, a green light symbolizes that you should…?” Once we practiced applying these definitions to relevant scenarios, we started to break up the poem into sections. Chunking a text is one of the many strategies I use as a teacher because it often aids in comprehension.

Throughout tutoring sessions, I am flexible, patient, and kind. Upon request I will provide a brief summary or action step to a parent or guardian!