By Julia Reck
Q1: What is the best part about being an English teacher?
A: I like talking about books. I also like helping kids find books they like.
Q2: Who is your favorite author and why?
A: I actually don’t have one. I find that different authors are good at different things. Some of the authors I really enjoy, are Curtis Sittenfield, Jane Eyre, and George Elliot.
Q3: What is your favorite book and why?
A: I also don’t have a favorite book. I guess it depends on what mood I’m in, what I feel is interesting, and you get what I mean.
Q4: Why do you like “The Giver?”
A: I enjoy teaching The Giver because I think it gives kids new ideas to think about and it challenges them to use their reading skills in new ways. Many schools who teach The Giver save it for 8th or 9th grade, thinking that their kids aren’t able to handle the content. I think it works for our 6th grade students because Wayland students are hard-working, intelligent kids who are ready for a challenge.
Q5: When and how did you decide you wanted to be an English teacher?
A: After my third year of college, I realized (GASP!) that I need to think about getting a job after college was done. I was an English major and I had chosen English because I love to read and study books. Nothing makes me happier that cracking into the deeper meanings of texts. So I decided I would teach English, so that I could keep studying books. I thought I wanted to teach high school, but all of my professors in graduate school, and even some of the people who I interviewed with said, “you’re a middle school teacher.” And they were so right. I like working with middle school kids because we can talk about reading, writing, and ideas, but also be goofy and have fun.
Q6: What really gets on your nerves in class?
A: When kids decide not to pay attention and to be rude about it. If I’m talking, trying to explain something and a kid starts to pack up his materials or to gossip with a friend, it drives me batty. I’ll put up with just about anything, so long as a kid isn’t rude.
Q7: Which do you prefer and why: People who stare into space but do a really good job at writing/reading or people who pay close attention but don’t do a good job writing/reading?
A: What an interesting question! I don’t think I can answer it quite as you want . . . I prefer a kid who pays attention and tries really hard. If you’re not successful but you tried, I’m still happy, because, to me, it’s the trying that counts. So a kid who has good behavior in class but doesn’t do homework, well, I appreciate that the kid isn’t disrupting my class, but I’d rather they put more effort into their studies and be checked out or a little naughty in class. Let’s be honest – this is 6th grade, not 10th or 11th grade. It’s OK to try and not be successful at your reading or writing. Middle school is a great place to learn how to recover from mess-ups.
