Nicole Schwartz English Teacher at Oyster Bay High School
Walt Whitman, Toni Morrison, Sharon Olds, William Shakespeare, James Baldwin, F. Scott Fitzgerald, Ralph Ellison, Charlotte Perkins Gilman, Langston Hughes, Maya Angelou, Feodor Dostoevsky, Khaledi Hosseini, Jack Kerouac, Billy Collins, Charlotte Bronte, Wally Lamb, Pablo Neruda. These are just a few of the exceptional writers who have used the weight and power of words to convey human experiences both in realistic and surreal ways. These writers captured my mind and furthered my zeal and ardor towards the study of literature. It is thanks to my teachers that I was exposed to such diverse, existential, romantic, and poetic authors. The passion that they taught me, and the analysis of literature we journeyed through together, has broadened my horizons to new ideas, and as a result, my appreciation to the finer details of the quotidian. I have learned to appreciate every word, every form of nature, every positive gesture I receive in a day, and every momentary stay has continuously soared to new heights.
My English teachers in high school were some of the most inspiring and influential individuals in my life. When I was asked during my interview at Oyster Bay to "Tell us about yourself," it was essential for me to convey the important effect that my teachers had on my life. It was because of them that I knew exactly what I wanted to do for the rest of my life and that I could only hope to inspire and motivate my students in the same manner that my teachers had done for me. Albert Einstein once said, "Intellectual growth should commence at birth and cease only at death," and as I have been compiling artifacts and samples to create this portfolio, his words are a constant truth throughout this process. I feel as if this portfolio could never possibly be finished because on a daily basis my students and I are learning from each other and growing intellectually through cross-curricular studies and thought-provoking discussion. All of the branches of teaching: content knowledge, preparation, instruction, classroom management, assessment, collaboration, and reflection are continuously expanding due to new experiences and developments in instructional practices and technology. Thus, this portfolio is a reflection of the past two wonderfully enriching years of experience that I have attained at Oyster Bay High School. I have gathered artifacts and documents that I use to regularly differentiate to meet the needs of all of my students. Evidence of classroom management and different forms of instruction and assessment can also help you picture a day in the life of a student in Ms. Schwartz's English class. I hope you enjoy catching a glimpse into this incredible two year journey that I have been fortunate enough to have had with the students, faculty and community at Oyster Bay High School.
My English teachers in high school were some of the most inspiring and influential individuals in my life. When I was asked during my interview at Oyster Bay to "Tell us about yourself," it was essential for me to convey the important effect that my teachers had on my life. It was because of them that I knew exactly what I wanted to do for the rest of my life and that I could only hope to inspire and motivate my students in the same manner that my teachers had done for me. Albert Einstein once said, "Intellectual growth should commence at birth and cease only at death," and as I have been compiling artifacts and samples to create this portfolio, his words are a constant truth throughout this process. I feel as if this portfolio could never possibly be finished because on a daily basis my students and I are learning from each other and growing intellectually through cross-curricular studies and thought-provoking discussion. All of the branches of teaching: content knowledge, preparation, instruction, classroom management, assessment, collaboration, and reflection are continuously expanding due to new experiences and developments in instructional practices and technology. Thus, this portfolio is a reflection of the past two wonderfully enriching years of experience that I have attained at Oyster Bay High School. I have gathered artifacts and documents that I use to regularly differentiate to meet the needs of all of my students. Evidence of classroom management and different forms of instruction and assessment can also help you picture a day in the life of a student in Ms. Schwartz's English class. I hope you enjoy catching a glimpse into this incredible two year journey that I have been fortunate enough to have had with the students, faculty and community at Oyster Bay High School.