My English courses are centered around thought-provoking critical reading skills, effective writing, and verbalizing one's interpretation of a literary text. I believe in living, laughing, and learning. My learning goals are for my students to gain a greater depth of understanding far beyond the text.

My professional background:
~ I have taught English Language Arts (ELA) in the middle school setting for 16 years (Texas public schools).

~ I understand the Common Core Standards for my content area.

~ I have been an ELA Curriculum Writer in my district for over ten years.

~ I am ELA certified in the State of Texas for grades 4th through 8th.

~ I am certified as a generalist in Early Childhood - 4th Grade.

~ I am certified in ESL for grades Early Childhood - 12th Grade.

~ I am certified in Special Education for grades Early Childhood - 12th Grade.

~ In addition to education, I am an online writer for various websites. I have a background in Corporate Management, International Sales, Grant Writing, and I have worked as a Project Director for a non-profit organization.

~ I have a Bachelor of Science degree in Dance with a minor in English from Texas Woman's University.

My philosophy of teaching:
I believe strongly in developing independent thought, voice, and empathy. I enjoy enlightening students in the skills necessary for analyzing multiple viewpoints, building evidence-based opinions, and creating awareness toward opposing arguments. Civility and kindness are essential to me, and I encourage my students to be respectful as they develop their own opinions and counterarguments. Importantly, promoting metacognition in my students is a common approach in my teaching style. Yes, I LOVE teaching!

My family:
My daughter, Briana Olivares, is a teacher here at Outschool. She has had the gift of music since her earliest years, and she enjoys sharing this beautiful art form with her students. My son keeps us entertained and laughing. He is heartwarming, sweet, and has autism; he has taught me so much as a teacher and mother. My rock and supportive husband has been in Corporate Restaurant Management for over 32 years. Yum!

Requests for courses are welcomed!

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Communication:

Outschool is my primary occupation, and I prioritize live classes during teaching days (Monday through Saturday). While I may not respond promptly during these days, I aim to reply within 24 hours (usually sooner).

Offline Hours:

I am offline on Saturday afternoon and Sunday, although I do periodically check messages and aim to respond promptly.

Materials:

In alignment with my teaching approach, all of the related materials and optional homework lessons will be provided in a PDF at the END of each respective lesson (NOT before). My lessons are interactive, guided experiences where all necessary materials are presented and annotated during class. Additionally, all classes are recorded for students' reference.

Assignments & Feedback:

Students are responsible for completing any unfinished assignments from class. I encourage all students to send their responses for feedback through private message.