Hi Guys =) So now that I have my first book published and available on Kindle and in paperback (Grace & Betrayal) and survived another semester of teaching.
So now here comes the TeacherWriters Tag, created for Teachers and Writers. Those of us who wear hats both in and out of the classroom.
This is a series of 20 questions that can be answered via a blog or YouTube video for all you YouTubers out there who want to show how Teachers and Writers can be the same person.
1. What made you become a teacher?
Family business. Both of my maternal grandparents taught elementary school and my Mom taught Special Education and my Dad is a college professor so it was kind of a natural fit for me.
2.What grade (and content) do you currently teach?
I am currently a high school math teacher. I teach 2 sections of Probability and Statistics, 1 section of Algebra 2, and 1 section of Algebra 1.
3. What is your daily routine like during the school year?
0500-Wake Up and Workout (Run or Kickbox or sleep if I’m super tiered)
0530-0630-Hygiene/Breakfast (Coffee is the bloodline for teachers)
0700-0745 Prep For School/Meetings/Copies/Ect
0800-1500 SCHOOL (Teaching/Emailing/Meeting/Copying/Lunch on the go/Teaching/Emailing/Meeting)
1500-1530 Tie up loos ends and prep for tomorrow school day
1600-1800 Grad School/Chores/Errands
1900-2000 Hygiene/Dinner.....sometimes I skip it)
4. What’s the most difficult part about teaching?
Classroom Management.Before you even teach, you have to set up rules, standards, and guidelines that you have to keep constant and make clear to your students and their parents.
5. What is your favorite part about teaching?
Seeing students get the material. I believe every student can learn but teaching can be difficult because everyone learns differently and as a teacher you have to address it in a different way for each student. It’s hard but it makes you a more effective communicator and a better listener.
6. What is the best book that you’ve read as a teacher?
”The First Day of School” by Harry Wong
It really lays out a strong skeleton for any teacher, especially those who are new like I still am and its so helpful.
7. Why did you become a writer?
I became a writer because I always loved creating my own stories when I was younger and I was an avid reader and still am.
8. What is your go to song or playlist when you write?
For me, it depends. For my first book, “Grace & Betrayal”, I listened to a lot of Hans Zimmer since it was an contemporary military fiction book. Now I’m writing a love story so I’m listening to a lot more love songs from Celine Dion and Motown.
9. What is the best environment for you to write in?
Personally, I love writing on Saturday. That is the day I set aside to write and do no school work. I go run in the morning, eat breakfast, brew myself a cup of strong coffee and open up my Apple Air and get to composing. I usually don’t find time to write during the week or if I do it’s only a few words but that’s something and I count that as progress.
10. Do I find that I'm inspired by my work as a teacher to write?
Yes and no. I’m a high school teacher and there is quite a bit of drama to use as source material for Young Adult Novels however I just wrapped up a New Age novel and I’m working on another New Age novel but some theme do overlap and come from my job and land in my book like friendship, dating, and fitting in.
11. Who is your favorite teacher writer?
This is hard one so I’m going to pick two. One for American Lit and one for British Lit.
American Lit: Laura Ingalls Wilder, no contest. I grew up reading and “Little House on the Prairie”, “Little House in the Big Woods”, and “Farmer Boy”. My Mom and I got into the show of the same name and “The Waltons” as well. It’s just those good stories of family and traditional values always stuck with me and made me feel like I was apart of the family adventures constantly.
British Lit: J.K. Rowling, also no contest. I wasn’t a big fan of fantasy novels until I read my first Harry Potter Novel in late middle school and I fell in love. The books are so beautifully written and the world that Ms. Rowling has built at Hogwarts is another reason why I wanted to teach. My favorite character is Professor McGonagall and I try to be like her as a teacher and care for my students but hold them to a high standard. Now if I could only transform into a cat and back into a human to keep them on their toes =)
Alright guys that’s it. I am tagging Kim Chance and Maureen O’Leary to do the tag next. Please check them out. They’re wonderful writers. See you guys next time =)
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dailybridgerton
gracieabrams
germansingergirl
kianamaiart
snowghoul
